The screaming had already died down long ago.
The steel gray sky was everything he could see, it was like a painted canvas. The clouds blotted the expansive sky and the sun that should have touched his face for warmth. Instead all he could feel was the warm blood that dripped over his temples.
Allendis' body felt lifeless. No amount of strength could get him to rise up. His limbs were stuck in place, whether it was from exhaustion or from the corpse that laid beside him, he did not care to find out. The rotting corpse of a man dressed in weathered leather probably helped with his exhaustion.
His eyes sagged. The searing pain on his abdomen was becoming natural to him. He did not dare place his hand on it as he knew blood was already pouring out to the next body beside him. He wished he was lying with a woman instead of a disfigured corpse that probably did not live a lavish life.
His eyes blinked for a moment, not out of any need of it but because it was getting heavy.
"…dis!"
There was a distant noise. He could barely register what it was. He couldn't hear well even though he caught a glimpse at two men crossing swords. One was wearing worn-down leather, while the other was in full plate of armour that once shone brightly if it weren't for the grime and blood that adorned it.
One that ended with the man in leather spurting out a fountain made possible by his head falling down to the other's feet.
"…endis!"
There it was again. Even though it was getting clearer, he did not care. His eyes were getting heavier by the second and he wanted to take a nap.
"Allendis!"
Just let me sleep dammit! He thought.
It kept him awake enough to see who was calling out to him. His vision may be blurred but he saw bright red hair–like a fiery flame. He wore armour that was probably designed to fit him. He almost had to laugh that the man approaching him had such asymmetrical armour, a light armour on the left, leather and chainmail on the right. It was as mismatched as ever yet it somehow worked.
The redhead held his sword in his hand as he approached him with such worry in his eyes.
"Halbin…" Allendis croaked out his name but even that was too much work on his body.
Allendis felt his head being lifted up by the soft leather covered hand of Halbin as he saw the redhead's emerald eyes clearly. It was almost glistening yet it darted in panic all over his exhausted body.
"I finally found you! Thank the Goddess!" Halbin said. Joy was evident in his voice.
Halbin's worried eyes were replaced with sheer panic as he saw the gaping hole on his abdomen.
Allendis wanted to laugh but even he could not do that. He felt Halbin's hand, shook under his head and tried to cradle it like a delicate bouquet.
"Let's get you out of here." Halbin said. There was a softness in his voice.
Allendis felt his body being gently carried by Halbin. His own head hung low and it dropped to the side of Halbin's plated armour. His left hand hung without support, almost wildly.
He could feel Halbin running. Each bump made Allendis' heart lighter and lighter. He could not take in as much air as breathing became more of a chore. Perhaps it was because he was being carried.
Halbin gripped his shoulder as his fingers trembled. He tried to speak even under such a heavy daze yet when he did, blood spurted out of his mouth, finally moistening his dried out lips.
"Hey! Don't give up on me! Everyone is waiting for us, I'm sure of it!" Halbin said. His voice was the only thing that was clear to Allendis.
Everyone? Allendis thought.
Right…Chelsea with her chipper attitude. Nitha and her endearing honor. Bach with his gruffness yet a wizened old bastard. Ponila and his cowardly yet oddly quiet bravery despite being a boy.
Their names flashed through his mind one at a time. Several moons of battles, drinks, shared stories and laughter. It was all his eyes could visualize.
And he didn't feel anything for them. Not a lick. He wished he had.
"Goddess…" Allendis heard Halbin mutter. "Your wounds…we need to get you to Geblin!"
Allendis glimpsed at his own injury. The gaping hole that tore through his right abdomen was dripping with blood. The crimson fluid created a small pool of it just between him and Halbin's armour, soaking into the plates and seams. The flesh that remained still yet beating because of the nerves twitching like it was trying to function even without any flesh connecting it.
No wonder Halbin was panicking so much. Allendis thought, laughing in his head with what little consciousness left.
To Allendis, everything felt heavy. Nothing felt real to him.
His vision was blurry yet he could see the men fighting till their dying breath.
He could almost taste the heat and sparks of black powder despite his mouth oozing out blood.
He could smell the blood and iron yet all he could focus on was how he felt like his nose did not want to invite the smog-filled air.
Allendis wasn't sure what was happening but he felt like he was falling. His face hit the mud that was made out of a fool's blood. His body twisted and rolled through it, smearing his face with the dirt. Half of his face was lying flat on the ground, the other looked forward to what lay ahead.
With one good eye, he saw Halbin block a man's sword with ease with his own yet his reckless movements were rushed.
Allendis saw a huge scar that pierced through his armour. A slash that ran across his back, from the right sliding down with a gash that bled out down to the left.
He saw Halbin fight as if a feral animal. There were an ever increasing number of soldiers in shiny plates of armour rushing at Halbin. He was too powerful for this lot as he effortlessly hacked through them like vegetation.
Swords flew and so did their flesh. In the moment Allendis blinked, all of Halbin's enemies were dead. He didn't know what happened to them but they were most likely lying in a pile of crap like he was.
Halbin limped towards him. He was out of breath yet he could feel that he had enough energy to still try and check up on him.
His wound must be taking a toll on him. Allendis thought.
"Hey…" Halbin called out to Allendis, his voice far gentler than ever. "Hang in there buddy. We can't let Tuvo and those damned Cloth bastards get away with this."
Allendis' eyes widened slightly, or at least, as much as he could. His vision was failing him but he somehow missed the stab wound on Halbin's chest. Red pooled out from the jagged socket in his chest, pulsing weakly.
Allendis felt being lifted again. This time with his arm wrapped around Halbin's shoulder, as the redhead supported his lifeless body up and dragged it across the field of corpses.
"I'm sorry. We shouldn't have taken this job." Halbin coughed as he tried to laugh. A painful one, but one that was filled with hope.
Job…Right. A stupid damn war for a stupid man. Those noblemen really had a knack for sending men to die for them. The goddess really was watching over them.
"So don't die yet. That's a direct order from your leader, you hear me? Let me make it up…" His voice was waning. It was becoming more distant until he could no longer hear him.
Allendis could barely hear Halbin. His vision was so blurry, he was practically blind. He tried to make his throat work. He had something to say but nothing came out. Nothing came in either.
All he wanted to say was…
I'm sorry.
But his blood had already run cold.
There was nothing. Only darkness and silence filled his mind.
…
"Would thou prefereth if this is the life thou want?"