"Good morning, Mom."
Kynn enters his mother's room and kneels at her bedside.
His mother's aged features shift and stir as she begins to wake.
"Alpin... good morning..."
Her voice is frail and fatigued. After all of these years, she still can't recognize him at first glance.
"It's just me, Mom. Kynn."
"..."
"...Today," Kynn does his best to sound upbeat. "I'm going to head out and try to capture a hoarbane. I asked Nola to dig a hole to contain it. You remember Nola, right?"
"..."
"...Once we have the thing trapped, we're going to test all the weapons we have on it. If all goes well, we'll be able to know how to kill them. And then... I'll finally be able to find a cure for you."
"...K-kynn?"
The boy's eyes widen and sparkle.
"...Yes, mom? I'm here."
"..."
"..."
"..."
The woman's eyelids fall over her damp pupils.
She succumbs once again to the luring sound of sleep.
Kynn's eyes water tenderly.
The boy leans over and kisses her on the forehead.
"I love you, Mom."
...
The son makes his way to his mother's door and closes it for the final time.
⧗⧖⧗⧖⧗
Korlin sprints as fast as humanly possible. He runs toward the hole in the wall, his legs trampling faster than he thought to be possible.
Blowing snow rakes his eyes. His limbs are numb and cold, but the pulsing adrenaline keeps him moving.
The Mother slithers behind him.
If he stops sprinting for even a second, it could mean his life comes to another end.
He keeps his eyes forward. Survival is the only thing on his mind. All his hubris and ambition have been swept away.
His honey-hued irises spot another human beyond the hole. Sirius stands in the opening, stunned and motionless.
His survival cogitation is overridden by a wave of guilt.
"SIRIUS! GET OUT OF HERE! RUN! HELP THE SICK!"
Korlin's bloodcurdling scream reaches Sirius's earshot. The boy struggles to grasp the situation.
"What have you done..."
An enormous, thin figure rapidly follows Korlin. A haunting red glow emits from within the fog. It's a massive bulbous.
An absurd amount of snakelike arms wriggle and propel the monster forward. Each slam into the ground resounds and rattles the outpost's walls.
A surge of sheer horror runs through Sirius's body. If no one can even kill a hoarbane... there's no way that thing is killable. It's impossible. To fight this monster is suicide. The only hope for survival is to escape.
-I need to warn everyone.
Sirius bursts from his frozen feet and doesn't look back. Whatever Korlin has done can wait. If Sirius sticks around for the boy to get through, he could get himself killed.
The boy sprints through the outskirts and pushes his lungs to reach the main settlement. A clinging desperation to live and warn keeps him moving.
"RUN! WE CAN'T STAY HERE!" Sirius has never screamed so loud in his lives. "IT'S COMING!"
Several snowsquallers come out of their homes to see what the ruckus is. Mutual worry and confusion spread among them.
Aureole rushes out of a medical hut.
"Sirius? What-"
"RUN! TELL THE KING! EVERYONE NEEDS TO-"
CRASH
An explosive sound erupts from the wall, and the ground beneath trembles.
Sirius pivots his gaze to the source.
The wooden walls that protect and encapsulate have shattered.
Above where the small hole in the wall existed, the Mother bursts forth and collapses all meaning of safety.
Splintering lumber scatters along with the falling snow, and the form of the Mother comes into detail.
As the warriors previously detailed, the monster is that of a terrible plant.
A thin, thorny, and ice-coated plant that towers above all of the outpost's watchtowers. A horrific, pulsating bulbous rests in place of pistils. Multiple branching stems act like arms, and, hardened with an impenetrable sheet of ice, the tentacles swing and rupture everything in their path.
This creature goes beyond that of a monster. It's a force of nature.
A calamity.
Korlin has brought about the end.
-Korlin... what the hell did you do?!
Is Korlin alright? Did he make it inside? Is he alive?
None of these questions enter Sirius's thoughts.
"Can I trust you not to do anything rash?"
-..."Maybe", my ass... I guess I can't trust you after all...
A lump forms in Sirius's throat. A mix of betrayal and terror.
Sirius whips back around to Aureole. Her gradient eyes are wide and full of fear. Sirius runs up to her and places his hands on her shoulders.
"We need to go!"
"W-what should we do?!"
"I don't know. At the very least, we need to leave the outpost. We're not safe here."
"What about the hoarbanes? If we leave, we'll be attacked..."
"We can at least ward them off, but we don't stand a chance against that thing. Tell the King, get him to issue an evacuation."
"What about the people in the medical huts?!"
"Uh- We need to somehow get them out of the outpost, but-"
"How-?!"
"I don't know! I don't know..."
"...Pholy is another hut further down the road. Can you help her get everyone out there? I'll gather the healers here and have them evacuate everyone, then head to the King."
"I can do that. I think I can do that... Sounds good. We'll... We'll get everyone to the main gate. Have everyone evacuate there! Good luck!" Sirius retracts and runs down the road. Aureole sprints inside the hut and issues her orders.
There is no time to waste.
Sirius's heart throbs in his ears.
The ground continues to tremor. He glances back at the monster...
-It's inside.
Distress resounds throughout the outpost. Resident snowsquallers are panicking. Some of them run, some of them stare on in horror, some of them scream...
Sirius throws himself into the nearest medical hut. Pholy is here. She's trying to calm down frightened children.
"Sirius! What is going on?!"
"We need to evacuate everyone from the medical huts! Now!"
The sickly squallers express concern over their conversation. Trouble spreads among them.
"What do you mean?"
"What's happening?"
"Why is everything shaking?"
The ill squallers' voices overshadow Sirius's instructions.
-I need to be blunt.
"Listen!' Sirius shouts. "Anyone who can move, help those who can't! The hoarbanes' Mother has broken into the walls! If you want to live, you need to get out of here!"
...
A deafening silence overtakes the building.
And then...
Panic.
-That probably wasn't the right move...
Pholy runs over to Sirius.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, get everyone out of here. I'll go evacuate the other huts."
"What about Aure?!"
"She's going to get the King."
"Have you found Korlin?!"
"..."
"Sirius?"
"Yeah, I found him... He's probably fine." Sirius dodges the truth and pivots to leave the hut. "Hurry! We'll need your flames to escape!"
"Wait! Where do I take them?!"
"Uh- The main gate!"
Sirius sprints outside and back toward the hut Aureole was in. He runs straight toward the terror.
The Mother is well inside the outpost. The east wall and watchtower have fallen.
The monster moves with haunting grace. Its motions are fluid and unpredictable. It slithers like a snake along its stems.
Suddenly, a figure pops out from underneath the monster.
It's a ball of ice... No...
It's a hoarbane.
Multiple of them.
They're coming in from beyond the broken wall.
-Shit. They're breaking in...
Sirius bursts through the entrance of the hut and assists the remaining healers inside. This will be the first hut hit if the Mother continues on its current path. He helps the sick onto their feet and, along with the healers, takes them outside. Thankfully, many of the sick push through their pain to assist the poisoned.
The tremors are getting louder. Faster. Closer.
They need to hurry.
Sirius rushes back inside and leads the majority of the squallers to the door.
"We'll take over here!" one of the healers shouts to Sirius. "Help the other huts!"
"Got it!"
pound
pound
As Sirius sprints out of the door, his peripheral vision catches sight of an icy tentacle.
POUND
A massive, thorny arm is being hurled right toward his face.
...
Sirius's heart stops, and his eyes widen. Time feels incredibly slow.
Carpi's arm invades his thoughts.
"The hoarbane's poison is slow to kill, but that thing... It's almost instant."
Purely on instinct, Sirius slides onto his back.
WHOOSH
A shredding gale of air sweeps over him. And behind him...
CRASH
...
The medical hut is cut in half.
The roof rips apart and blows away. Chunks of wood splinter and shoot off into the distance. Cries erupt from within the building. Horrific, agonizing screams.
The sick and the healers...
Are they alive?
Sirius tumbles onto his feet and runs. The mother is close. Too close. If he hadn't ducked, he would have been sliced in half.
Those who removed themselves from the hut beforehand scamper and cry. Everyone desperately runs from the beast behind them.
Correction: Beasts. Plural.
Hoarbanes begin to flood the streets.
Nothing has ever looked so dire.
Snarls of the ice-coated wolves come up from behind him. They bear their jagged fangs that drip with poison. The red bulbouses in place of eyes stalk the fleeting townsfolk.
To Sirius's left runs a woman.
A hoarbane approaches behind her. Sirius contemplates whether to fend it off or not. He knows how to stun them. But does he really have time to stop and help other people right now? Korlin told him to help the sick...
Despite his reluctance, Sirius slides over and slams his foot into the beast's bulbous. The hoarbane wails and topples onto its side.
"Thank you..."
Sirius doesn't say a word. To make up for lost time, he picks up his speed, leaving the lady and everyone else behind.
The road leads him to Pholy's hut again.
There is some time before the Mother arrives. But the hoarbanes are faster, so there's no telling how fast they'll show up.
Pholy is by the door, assisting people out of it. She spots the boy.
"Sirius! Is everyone alright over there?!"
Sirius struggles to respond. Maybe half were evacuated in time... And now they're all running for their lives... Most of them probably won't make it, and he lacks the power to save them.
"No time! Hoarbanes have broken in!" Sirius continues sprinting past the hut. He heads for the next hut.
"Should I slow them down?!"
"Do what you can!"
Sirius's voice fades as he gets further and further away.
Pholy assists a few more people.
"We can take care of the last few," a healer tells Pholy. "Please, don't let those things get any closer."
Pressure swells within her. "...Alright."
Pholy leaves the hut and heads toward the monsters.
"Ah, shit... Kindel give me strength..."
The hoarbanes tread low. If it weren't for their bulbouses, they'd look like flying chunks of ice.
They're rapidly approaching.
Pholy lights her hands on fire. The ends of her hair and the light in her eyes blaze a bright fuchsia.
Swiping her palms out in front of her, a surge of flames bursts forth. The inferno travels and thrashes into the hoarbanes' frosted armor. The wolves keel over and cry. While it'll only be temporary, a few hoarbanes fall out of commission.
But only a few.
Dozens of hoarbanes are spilling into the outpost. The Mother has opened the floodgates, and it doesn't look like it'll close anytime soon.
-I'm the only one who can do this...
Pholy groans. It's way too much responsibility.
-Do I go for the hoarbanes or the Mother? Will killing the Mother stop the hoarbanes?
Whatever the answer is, she needs to act fast. The Mother is drawing near.
The sporadic movements of its arms cut through the nearby buildings. It's utter devastation. The plant-like monstrosity towers and intimidates the girl.
But this is no time to feel fear.
Pholy's fingertips ignite. She stretches out her arms and slams her palms together. The impact of her hands barrels a firestorm at the Mother. Her flames dance through the snow-streaked sky and collide against the Mother's icy body.
...
There is no effect.
-What...?
Her flames are powerless against it.
What was effective against the hoarbanes is entirely useless against the Mother. The beautiful blaze simply disperses when hitting its armor.
Pholy's body, while burning hot, freezes in place.
The feeling of hopelessness is all the more present.
Her bright eyes dim and shrink.
BARK
A hoarbane's call is what snaps her out of her daze.
The frosted wolf leaps at her face.
Acting on instinct, she swipes a hand and throws a ball of fire at its face. Not able to face this threat, Pholy runs away.
She dashes back through the street and passes the now-empty medical hut. She feels a small sense of relief, but it is immediately cut short as a group of hoarbanes runs past. They ignore her, chasing a small group of squallers.
They've learned to avoid her.
Pholy groans and chases after the pack.
-Aureole, Sirius... please hurry!
⧗⧖⧗⧖⧗
Aureole dodges past falling debris swept up by the Mother. Distant growls of hoarbanes propel her faster.
She reaches the king's quarters and throws open the door, stumbling into the main room.
"Your Majesty!"
Accompanying the King are three warriors and a young boy. The King fidgets in his throne.
"Ah, Miss Aureole!"
"Your Majesty, you need to order an evacuation! The hoarbane Mother has entered the outpost!"
"Yes..." The King nods. He is evidently in distress. "I fully agree. The issue is how we will escape."
"We're telling you!" One of the warriors yells. "Once we get everyone to the gate, we warriors will protect the carriages. We'll fend off any trailing hoarbanes!"
"That's suicide!"
"You think we don't know that?! With all due respect, Your Majesty, you're being far too indecisive right now! Our job is to defend the people of this outpost, and we can't do that if you won't place your faith in us!"
"..." The King struggles to decide.
"..." The warriors stare at their leader, passion burning in their eyes.
"...Very well..." he succumbs, his tone somber.
"Sirius is already gathering people at the main gate!" Aureole shouts. "Pholy should be helping, too! We just need you to come to the gate, and everyone should follow!"
"...You three," King Bora speaks to his warriors. "Go and swiftly round up the remaining residents on the outskirts. Then get to the gate as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir!" all of the warriors shout in unison. The three of them promptly run out of the building.
"Let's go, Your Majesty!" Aureole calls.
"..."
"Your Majesty?"
"Dad?" Quilo shakes his father's side.
"I will remain here."
...
Quilo's face distorts.
"What are you talking about?!" Aureole approaches the man.
"As king, I have a duty to stand with the outpost. Until its ruin, I am to remain here and defend it."
"Dad! No! You can't stay here!"
"Quilo..." The King places his hand on the boy's head. "Go now. I want you, at least, to live a long life."
"No! You're coming with! You-!"
"Your Majesty!" Aureole interjects. "Apologies, but I cannot allow you to stay here. I still don't know much about being a ruler, but what I can tell you is that your duty includes more than just defense."
"..."
"After the evacuation is done, the people will need a leader to bring them together. If they found out their king had stayed behind to perish, what do you think will happen to their morale?"
"...There are many squallers who are more than capable of taking my position. I am but a king in name alone. Staying behind is the least I can do for my people."
Aureole grabs the man's wrist.
"Then don't flee as a King. Flee as a Father."
"..."
Bora's eyes land on his son.
"Please..." Quilo's voice cracks. He squeezes his father's shoulder.
"Do you really wish to leave your son all alone? To grow up without a dad...?"
...
Tremors shake the tense room.
"...No. No, I don't. You're right... I will go."
Quilo's face lights up with overwhelming joy. He jumps into his father's arms and hugs him tightly.
"Quilo..." The King clears his throat. "Now is not the time. We must leave."
"Yes, will you be fine without any guards?" Aureole questions.
"We will see." The King stands from his throne. "Let's go."
The King motions everyone out of the building. Aureole and Quilo rush out the door, trailing right behind the King.
Snow and dust shroud the air. Debris and shards of glass litter the streets.
King Bora is surprisingly fast for his age. Upon further inspection, he's using the snow below him to glide forward. Many of the retreating snowsquallers use similar methods of escape. With their ability of snow manipulation, they can carry themselves anywhere as long as there is enough snow.
All of the squallers in sight use their ability, apart from the boy sprinting beside Aureole.
Quilo runs just like her.
"H-hey... Can you promise me something?" Quilo asks Aureole. He makes sure his father can't hear him.
"Um, sure..."
"...Can you promise to protect my dad?"
"..."
"No matter what. Don't let him get hurt... Please."
Sensing his strong desire and attempting to put the boy at ease, Aureole responds.
"...I promise you. I won't let anything happen to him."
Her response elicits a smile from the boy.
"Thank you."
While still distant, the main gate forges into view.
The gate is swarmed with snowsquallers. Carriages are overflowing with bodies desperately wanting to leave. The door remains shut.
"We're almost there!" The King roars. Faint quakes rattle the ground below them. Thankfully, the Mother is far behind. "Once we're at the gate, we'll have the ill depart first-"
growl
Suddenly, a hoarbane emerges from fallen rubble.
It leaps out at the King, bearing its fangs, ready to sink into his flesh.
An intense desire to protect springs through Aureole's veins. She just promised the boy to protect his father. She can't let him down. She needs to be useful.
Without considering the consequences, Aureole throws her arm between the King and the wolf.
From what she's gathered by listening to others, the hoarbanes get stunned when their bulbous is harmed. Using this knowledge, she lunges at the beast, grabbing the red orb on its face.
Aureole's fingernails tear into the mass, and she rips it off the hoarbane's head. Blood spews from both the bulbous and the fanged face. The predator shrivels and cries.
Aureole flings the bulbous out of her hand and shakes off the stray blood.
-Gross...
"Thank you, Aureole. You will make a fine queen one day."
"...No problem."
growl
Another hoarbane comes up from behind them.
The King pivots and extends his hand in the direction of the beast.
A flurry of snow sweeps off the ground and spirals at the hoarbane.
The snow bounces off the monster's icy skin with no effect. It's as if a gust of wind had passed.
"Just as I was told," The King groans. "Our snow is powerless against them. They don't even budge... We can't waste our energy on attacks."
growl
Another one appears.
And another.
Then another.
...
They're surrounded.
"Dad... What do we do?!"
"I don't know... Do you think you can use it?"
"You know I can't!"
"...Aureole? Any chance your wings can fly us to safety?"
"Ha... I wish."
Aureole wiggles the tiny wings on her back, but sure enough, they aren't nearly strong enough to lift her.
"Do you happen to have any blessings? Anything that can help?"
"...I do... But... I don't know if it'll work."
"Well, now is the time to try!"
"...Alright..."
-I have light compatibility. With it, I am technically able to use Blessings of Lior. But as I am, I'm only able to produce the lowest level blessing: Mirage. With it, I could summon projections of myself to act as decoys. The problem is that I have no idea how to use it... I can repeat the incantation, but drawing out the mirages is near impossible...
But this isn't the time to hesitate... is it?
"Hurry!"
Aureole takes a deep breath.
She calms her heart and listens to it beat inside her ears.
"Distort the waves of light that flicker in thine eyes, refract mine vessel and bemuse all which witness.
Blessing of Lior: Mirage!"
With the incantation spoken, Aureole is granted the ability to produce the blessing.
She strains her body. She tightens all of her muscles, causing veins to bulge from her skin. All of her concentration is fixed on producing a clone.
The outline of her body begins to distort. For onlookers, it appears as if her skin is bending and refracting.
Channeling all her focus, a brief apparition of herself fades in and out of existence beside her. The warped image is an exact replica of Aureole's body. If not for its instability, it could act as a perfect distraction.
Unfortunately, the hoarbanes aren't easily fooled.
And they won't wait any longer.
One of the beasts lunges forward, directly at Aureole's oblivious body.
The monster's ferocious growl snaps Aureole out of her concentration. The mirage dissipates, proving her efforts useless. Her eyes widen at the sight of the horrific beast.
She freezes.
"Aureole!"
Before the beast can reach her...
The King leaps in its way.
Placing his body between the girl and the wolf, his skin is met with fangs.
The jagged teeth sink into the King's arm, injecting him with deadly poison.
"DAD!"
Quilo's heart drops as he is filled with dread. Guilt pours down onto Aureole.
Grinding his teeth, the King uses his other arm to assault the hoarbane's eye. His burly fingers dig into the bulbous and pop it.
In the beast's agony, it retracts its fangs and flails back.
"We need to go!" The King grips the puncture point to try and relieve the pain.
He turns to face the hoarbane blocking the pathway to the gate, and, without the slightest bit of hesitation, charges toward it with a mighty roar.
"What are you doing?!"
As he is already poisoned, the King finds no reason not to put himself in harm's way.
Before the beast can attack, the King barrels his arm into the hoarbane's face. Smashing the bulbous on its head, Bora flings the dog off to the side.
"Run through!"
The King signals his son and Aureole to head toward the gate. They do as they're told, and run through. The King trails their escape, ready to fend off any pursuers.
Using his affinity, the King stirs a whirlwind of snow and slush. He entraps the assailing hoarbanes in a cyclone, but, as proven earlier, the hoarbanes are unaffected by the snowsqualler's abilities.
"How do you feel about slides?!" King Bora asks.
"Slides?!"
"Run up the hill!"
Lifting his hand, the King conjures a mound of snow in front of them. Quilo sprints up the ramp without hesitation. He must have done this before. Aureole and the King follow suit.
As they run up the dune, the King disperses the snow behind them. Their platform becomes a hill with no start and no end, disconnected from the ground entirely. This makes the hoarbanes unable to follow.
At the zenith of the floating mound, Quilo leaps off without fear. At their current elevation, a fall would no doubt lead to injury, if not death. Aureole, at the dune's climax, dithers but reluctantly jumps.
The King is last to enter freefall. But as he does, he gathers snow in the form of a massive slide. The loose snow packs together and materializes into a solid slope.
Quilo lifts his legs and lands on the ramp with his rump. Aureole mimics the boy, but her landing is a little less graceful.
"Ow..."
The King lands on his feet and skates down the icy slide. The King continuously lengthens the end of the slide, making sure their velocity doesn't cease. He uses the left behind snow to throw at the longing beasts.
Every action he takes uses an immense amount of focus and effort. The ability to continuously form a vanishing slide in mid-air and attack their pursuers is no easy feat.
Their momentum carries them all the way to the main gate.
Sirius assists ill squallers into the wagons.
There aren't enough carriages to fit everyone. But he, along with a few guards, continues to pile people into them.
"Carefully now..." Sirius gently lifts a child into its mother's arms.
"Thank you, young man..."
The sound of sledding enters his earshot. Sirius peers over and finds three people flying over on a snowy sky slide.
-What the hell...
He spots Aureole. She's the only one spinning in circles. It's slightly comical.
The forming ramp concludes near the carriages. Quilo slows his descent and dismounts with perfect precision.
Aureole is rocketing down at full speed, unable to control her dive. She's going to hurt herself.
Instinctively, Sirius stops what he's doing and rushes toward the base of the slide. Before he can get there, Aureole's butt collides with the ground. And instead of stopping, her momentum carries her forward.
Trying to stop herself, she extends her legs into the hard snow. Unfortunately, she doesn't stop. Instead, her body leans forward and launches into the air.
Aureole flails in the air, screaming, and Sirius runs into the right position to catch her. He extends his arms, bracing himself, ready to catch her like a ball being thrown. Aureole's body soars through the sky, and she slams right into Sirius's arms.
Her momentum carries them both, and so, with her body on top of his, Sirius is thrown backward into a carriage wheel. His head pounds against the wood, and he slides to the ground, holding her in his arms.
"Ow..."
Regaining her sense of direction, Aureole lifts her head and finds Sirius's squinted eyes.
"Are you alright?!"
"Y-yeah... are you?"
"I-I'm fine, I just had a little scare..."
"Thank goodness..." Sirius sighs a breath of relief.
-Why am I so relieved...?
His vision focuses, and he notices the blush on Aureole's cheeks and ears. His cheeks also begin to burn red.
-She's so close...
Their eyes connect, and they don't divorce from each other.
The cold air makes their mingled breaths visible.
The distance between them is almost nonexistent...
They could almost melt together.
"Are you two alright?!" The King roars, knocking both of them out of their daze. Aureole jumps and falls off Sirius's chest.
"Y-Yes! We're fine!" she declares. Her ears are wiggling, and her speech is flustered.
"Sorry, I should have made the end a little smoother."
"D-Don't worry about it..."
The King turns to Sirius. The man pretends as if his arm was not bitten.
"Thank you, lad. For beginning evacuation efforts."
"Ah... N-No problem. This should be almost everyone."
"The warriors are gathering the people on the outskirts. Once they return-"
"King Bora!" A guard from the gate's watchtower shouts down. "Kynn and his team have returned!"
"Let them in!"
"Yes, sir!"
The guards gather at the wall's chains and begin lowering the gate. As they do, another group of squallers comes toward the carriages. Pholy is leading them.
"Pholy!" Aureole runs up and wraps her arms around the girl.
"Aure! Are you alright? Did anything happen?"
Aureole's arms tighten.
"I couldn't do anything... I couldn't use it again..."
"...Aure... It's alright." Pholy tightens her grasp as well.
The main gate of Laurent's Outpost descends and crashes into the snow. Kynn and a group of warriors sprint inside. Three of the warriors are dragging the body of a hoarbane inside. The wolf is alive, but its bulbous is exploded. Their mission was a success.
Unfortunately, as Kynn runs inside, he sees the horde of people and carriages. Their victory instantly melts.
"...What's going on?"
"Kynn!" The King strides over to the boy. "We've been infiltrated. The hoarbanes' Mother has broken through the wall. We are evacuating."
"Evacuating?!" Kynn's eyes widen. "What about my mom? Is she here?!"
"I'm... not sure."
Kynn jumps on top of a carriage and scans through the swarm of people. He hops from carriage to carriage, hoping to find her.
She's not there.
"Dad?" Quilo pulls on his father's sleeve. Worry is plastered all over his face. "What about your arm?"
"I'll be fine," he assures. Patting his son on the head, the man turns to Sirius. "Have you evacuated the homes?"
"No, I only focused on the sick... Most people in the homes ran out once the Mother broke in."
"Hm... Kynn-"
"I need to go get her!" Kynn shouts and jumps down from the carriage.
"Wait! Kynn, you shouldn't run off alone!"
"I'll be fine! You can leave without us! We'll catch up!"
"Wait-!"
pound
"What..." Kynn's jaw drops.
POUND
"The Mother..."
The twisted plant monster emerges over the horizon. Its whip-like arms crash and ripple the terrain.
The snowsquallers in the carriages shriek in terror. They beg to leave the outpost immediately. Children are crying.
Adjacent to the Mother are hordes of hoarbanes.
An army. A coalition of vicious beasts with no concept of mercy.
"Get the people out!" King Bora demands. "All warriors and guards depart with them! Let no hoarbane take our lives!"
"Yes, sir!" All present warriors and guards shout and scamper. The carriages begin to depart as the Mother approaches.
As the first carriage drives over the gate and leaves the outpost's boundaries... Another problem emerges.
growl
Outside of the outpost's walls is another swarm of hoarbanes.
Exit is not an option.
...
Hysteria ensues.
The snowsquallers have had enough. Tears and cries spill from the carriages.
Everyone has been grouped together and cornered. They are all prime for slaughter. Many have accepted their fates.
"Can we handle them?"
"No..." the King's heart sinks. "There are far too many..."
Dozens upon dozens of hoarbanes wait outside the walls. Even attempting to attack will lead to their demise.
Death stands outside and inside the walls.
Face the hoard... or face the Mother.
They must pick their poison.
"Get everyone back in!" The King takes his gamble. "Then close the gate!"
...
"What do we do?" Sirius asks.
"I don't know..." Pholy mutters. "...Where's Korlin?"
"..."
"Sirius? Where is he?"
"I don't know..."
"I thought you knew where he was!"
"I did... I don't know if he's alive anymore..."
"What...? Where was he?"
"..."
"Where was he?!"
"...I don't think you want to know."
"..."
POUND
The Mother's advance doesn't falter.
The remaining carriages enter back in the outpost, and the guards shut the gate. They're back in the same position.
"Pholy," Aureole calls for her. She motions the girl to follow her.
Facing away from everyone, the two talk in private.
"What is it?" Pholy whispers.
"I know you don't want to... But do you think..."
"I don't think that's a good idea-"
"If you don't, we'll all probably die... It's our only chance right now."
"..."
"Please. You shouldn't have to, but I don't think we have much of a choice."
"Once I do it, I'll be out... And if I miss... you'll be left defenseless."
"I know, but I believe in you... I know you can do it."
"..." Pholy takes a deep breath. "Make sure nobody comes near me. I don't want to hurt anyone again. Especially you."
"I will." Aureole hugs her friend. "Thank you, Pholy... Don't overdo it, okay? I need you to come back."
"...I will. Take care of me when I come back."
"Of course."
Pholy smiles and retracts from her friend's arms. She gives her a nod and turns to face the encroaching Mother.
"I need to go to my mom!" Kynn exclaims to everyone. "I'll be right back! I'll damage as many as I can!"
"Kynn! No! That's suicide!"
"I'll be fine! Please, let me save my mom!"
"There's at least a hundred! If you go in there, you'll be shredded within seconds!"
"It's better than waiting to die here!"
"Kynn..." Nola, the bippie keeper, along with her sister, steps forward. "Please..."
"Nola..."
"She's probably fine," Nola's sister says, coming up to Kynn. "The Mother hasn't gone in that direction. I don't want to lose you so easily..."
"Nuray... Sorry, I can't just leave her to die." Kynn bursts from his feet and starts running toward his home and mother.
...
"Wait."
Pholy grabs Kynn's shoulder.
"Pholy? What do you want-?"
"Step back."
"What- Sorry, I need to save my mom-"
"No. Let me handle this."
"...What are you going to do?"
"Something stupid..." Pholy sighs. "I might die, and I'm not sure if it'll even work... But... I have to try."
"Don't be stupid. You stay back and defend the people. If the hoarbanes come, they'll need you to protect them."
"...Go back, Kynn. If you stand near me, you'll melt."
Pholy's tone is stern and serious, a complete departure from every interaction before.
The fire in Pholy's eyes tells him everything he needs to know.
"...Okay... I'll trust you."
Pholy nods. "Can I see your sword real quick?"
"Hm? Sure..." Kynn unsheathes his sword and hands it to the girl.
"Thank you."
With the hilt in her hand, she puts the metal to her palm.
slice
Pholy cuts her hand with the blade, causing blood to flow from her palm. She winces from the pain, but swiftly raises the blade to her other hand.
"What are you doing?"
slice
She cuts her other palm. Blood now seeps from both of her hands.
"If I don't make it... protect Aureole." Pholy gives the sword back to Kynn. "Have her give my mom my regards."
"..."
"...Please."
"...Okay." The mention of her mother makes Kynn understand her resolve. Kynn nods and reluctantly jogs back to the carriages.
She waits for him to move a considerable distance away. And once he's out of her range, she ignites her hands with pink flames.
With everyone now behind her... With everyone watching...
Pholy slows her heartbeat and swallows a deep breath.
"Great god of fire, I call upon your seething heart and beckon for your blood. From thy furnace, I draw your marrow, ignite mine ichor and imbue it with thy rage. Broil my being and inflame which brings my life.
Blessing of Kindnel: Bloodflame!"
Pholy's fuchsia eyes begin to darken. Their bright pigment bleeds from its beautiful pink and into a deep crimson. The ends of her hair shed into the same raw color. The pink flames burning on her fists rage into a bloody red.
Pholy raises her cut hands.
From her bloodied wounds, an inferno of raging bloodlust erupts.
The girl known as Pholy is stripped of her consciousness. Her thoughts, her feelings, her personality... All of it burns into a bate. The cost of her Bloodflame is her sense of self.
Pholy's mind is lost.
Flames consume her.
The sound of her blaze is that of a monster's shriek. Like a siren, warning those who oppose it of death...
As she sways her arms, the bloody blaze encircles the girl. Wind rips around her, fueling the firestorm further. A cyclone crates her, ringing her in red flames.
She is encaged in a murderous inferno which begs to be released. Her flame's desire to burn.
Flames do not discriminate. What they see is what they wish to consume.
In her eyeline, the Mother encroaches.
In her current state, Pholy cannot possibly restrain the flames' desire. The best she could do was face the Mother before unleashing this power.
And so...
The flames unleash.
With a haunting cry, a crimson blaze bursts from Pholy's hands. The sear soars through the cold sky, incinerating the air and falling snow.
It travels faster than one can blink, and the flames reach the Mother's body in an instant. They engulf it in an instant.
The ice-covered monstrosity is swallowed by a sea of crimson flames. The inferno spirals around all of its limbs, leaving no room to breathe.
The Mother has no mouth to cry from.
So, instead of wailing, it throws itself from side to side. The beast swings its thorny arms and demolishes everything in the immediate area. It lashes and flails, obliterating nearby hoarbanes like they're glass.
Pholy continues her assault. The lines between herself and the Bloodflame are blurring. No emotion, no thoughts... Nothing apart from fire exists within her.
Bloodflame.
An expert-level blessing for those with a fire compatibility. It draws from the user's blood to empower the potency of their flames. When expelled, the flames can burn through all forms of matter. But, as Pholy hasn't trained her compatibility much, her Bloodflame isn't nearly strong enough to melt more than strong metals.
Pholy is barely advanced level with her compatibility. So, in order to use Bloodflame, she must let her mind be consumed. As long as she uses it, she is not herself. Nor anyone. At this point in time, luck has taken the wheel.
The more Bloodflame is used, the more the user is weakened. And since she has no sense of self, she is unable to restrain herself. If used for too long, the user will be drained of all blood and die.
...
Onlookers watch in horror and marvel. The display is full of beauty, but mixed with deep disturbance.
The hoarbanes, which were following the Mother, scatter and retreat.
"How much longer can she stay like that?" Kynn asks.
"I don't know," Aureole responds. "But the longer she does, the more blood she'll lose..."
"Hm..."
"What have I done... We should stop her!" Aureole's previous resolve has shattered. She forgot how horrifying this was.
"We just need to ensure the Mother is dealt with. Once that happens, yes."
"She's not conscious like that. She could die!"
"Is there a way to stop her?" Sirius asks.
"I'm not sure."
"The ground below her is melting. If she loses sight of the Mother, will she stop?"
"Maybe? I don't know! She's only used it once before! I wasn't there!"
The mother continues to squirm and decimate.
The firestorm around Pholy begins to burn brighter. The blazing ball expands and ripples a heatwave throughout the outpost. Her beam of pure heat strengthens and singes the Mother even more.
Pholy's flame is unnaturally hot. Too hot. Too expensive.
She's losing far too much blood.
Aureole fidgets. Concern for her friend takes hold of her.
"Pholy! Please stop!"
No response.
"Kynn!" Aureole faces the awed boy. "Can you blind her?"
"Blind her?"
"Use the snow! Do something, please!"
"She burns any snow around her! We'll need something else to snap her out of it!"
Aureole shrinks and ponders to herself. Kynn continues to observe the onslaught.
Sirius looks around near the Mother. A few hoarbanes lie still on the ground, burning to a crisp.
"The hoarbanes don't burn..."
"Hm?"
"Look." Sirius points at the hoarbanes burning with the bloody fire. "The ice around them instantly melts, but their bodies won't."
"What are you saying?"
Sirius turns toward the warriors who captured a hoarbane.
"If the hoarbanes won't burn instantly, we could use one to knock her out of it."
"You want to throw a hoarbane at her?!" Kynn asks.
"It's just a thought."
"Let's do it!" Aureole agrees. "Fast!"
Sirius is surprised by how readily she agrees.
"I'll do it." Kynn doesn't wait to hear a response. He treads over to his fellow warriors and asks them for the hoarbane, which is repeatedly getting its bulbous popped. The warriors hesitantly agree and hand him the hoarbane.
Kynn drags the wolf by one of its legs. He starts heading toward Pholy's burning ball of death.
"Kynn! What are you doing?!" Nuray shouts.
"Don't worry! I'm just going to throw this dog at her!"
"Wha...?"
Kynn presses forward, not looking back. There is no time to waste. Not for Pholy. Not for his mom.
The heat radiating from Pholy makes the boy sweat.
Heatwaves blast from Pholy, and snow particles dust off of Kynn's skin. Just being near her puts him at risk of melting. He's at the limit of what a snowsqualler's body can handle.
Highlighted by the Bloodflame, Kynn trudges through the red snow. He closes in on Pholy, standing right outside her searing sphere.
With the hoarbane in tow, he hoists it up. The creature is surprisingly light to Kynn, due to how much adrenaline he's carrying with him.
"For mom..."
Gripping one of the wolf's melting legs, he leans back and winds up a pitch. Pouring all his strength into his arms, Kynn launches the hoarbane toward the blazing girl.
The hoarbane soars into the Bloodflame ball, and as it does, all of the ice surrounding its skin instantly evaporates. The bulbous on its face melts into a red slush, and its impenetrable skin bursts into flames.
The beast flails through the burning mass and slams into the back of Pholy's head.
The rough, burning flesh of the hoarbane collides with Pholy's hair and topples her forward. The mindless girl loses her balance and falls face-first into the dirt.
As her head meets the ground, the impact and the loss of vision cause the flames to slowly disperse.
...
"Thank Alsi..." Kynn collapses to his knees. "I was scared I'd have to throw my sword at you."
Pholy is motionless. Blood pools from her hands.
The roasted hoarbane also lies still, subtly floating in her pond.
"Pholy!" Aureole sprints over as fast as she can. She skids across the burnt ground and picks up Pholy into her arms. The girl's skin is scorching, but Aureole bears through it. "Pholy..."
Pholy's eyes are open. Their crimson color is fading back into fuchsia.
"..."
"Good job. That was amazing... You did so well..." Aureole compliments her bleeding friend. Tears are welling up in her eyes.
Pholy's gaze meets Aureole's.
...
The flaming girl smiles, and then her eyelids fall.
...
Kynn stands stiff.
"She's not... dead, right?"
"No, she's still breathing. But we need someone to help her!"
"Nuray! Get over here quick!" Kynn crouches and inspects Pholy's wounds. "It looks like Nuray will be able to heal her wounds. She should be fine."
"Thank you..." Aureole smiles, a tear streaming down her cheek.
Nuray rushes over and immediately begins healing Pholy. Kynn thanks Nuray and looks toward the Mother.
As he does, cheers from the snowsquallers erupt near the carriages.
The ice surrounding the Mother has melted. What Pholy's base flames couldn't burn, Bloodflame eviscerated. Its plant-like arms are charred and continue to cinder.
The Mother continues to thrash its appendages. It's still alive.
While the Mother looks like a plant, it sure doesn't burn like one. The bulbous on its head has regrown and remains intact.
Not a single hoarbane apart from the one beside Pholy is in sight. They've all run away. And now, the Mother follows.
The Mother turns away and begins its retreat.
"It's running..." Sirius says, coming up behind Kynn.
"Yeah-" Kynn's mouth suddenly shuts. "SHIT!"
Kynn abruptly bursts from his spot, and sprints toward the escaping Mother.
"What's wrong?!"
"Sirius! Follow me!"
"Uh- Okay!" Sirius doesn't think; he just follows the sprinting boy. "What are we doing?"
"It's heading toward my Mom's house."
...
The look in Kynn's eyes is dangerous. Terrifying.
Sirius doesn't say another word. Neither of them do.
Kynn uses his snow manipulation to propel himself. Each of his footsteps rockets him forward. His concentration is at a zenith. Sirius can't keep up.
The Mother's rampage sweeps rubble around it like a whirlwind. Stray pieces fly toward the pursuing boys.
Kynn weaves them with precision and surges ahead. He leaves Sirius far behind. Nothing apart from saving his mother is on his mind.
His house comes into view.
The Mother is on a direct path toward the home.
"MOM!" Kynn screams, using all his power and speed to fling faster. The boy pushes past his limits. His lungs burn, and his legs ache. Having just returned from a mission, he's exhausted. While capturing the hoarbane, he had to fend off four others.
Pushing past his fatigue, Kynn almost catches up to the Mother. Snow explodes behind him, launching each step far further than humanly possible.
The Mother nears the house. It closes the distance faster than Kynn can reach them.
"NO!"
The house enters the Mother's range. It's in its way.
The raging monster winds back a thorned arm, and the world slows before Kynn.
"No..."
He won't make it. He can't.
The Mother is too fast.
...
It swings its arm.
The burning appendage glides through the wind, and...
All within a moment, Kynn's world collapses.
The Mother's massive arm collides with the wooden walls.
Without even a chance to blink, the limb's mass and momentum obliterate the building.
CRASH
Kynn's home splinters and shatters. The support crumbles, and the walls implode into ruin. Glass scatters, and wood fragments into oblivion.
The Mother stomps over the remains of the home. Its arms thrash the prevailing panels, reducing them to dust.
It tramples over the foundation like it's nothing more than a crack on a sidewalk.
The Mother continues on its path, rampaging past the home.
...
Kynn falls to his knees.
His childhood home, which he's grown up in since birth, was just annihilated in front of him.
And inside was...
"Mom..."