The Sworn Defender

by The Ranger

  Richard made an awkward face upon hearing Kiri's words and turned his attention to Jira. Both he and the young man stared at each other, both too obstinate to give ground. Richard broke off from the uncomfortable exchange and set his eyes on the Sentinel.

  "I'll go with you, Andros," he volunteered.

  "As will I," Jensen added.

  He looked at the baker and saw the edge of the scar that sat on his chest. The injury that had pushed him away from killing monsters.

  "Well, I'm not sitting in here with any children or old people," Baku smirked. "I'll be there too."

  "I have a few more gathering near the barrier," Jira admitted, finally relaxing. "They know to follow your commands."

  "Yes, that will have to do," Andros sighed, closing his eyes for a moment. "Can you feel it, Eilon? Cathus is on the field today… let us not disappoint him."

  The Sentinel marched away without another word; Richard watched him as he steadily made his way to the edge of the barrier.

  "I'm still going with them," Kiri announced.

  "Please," Jira murmured. "Stay here, with Eilon. Be reasonable, Kiri."

  "I'm sorry, my lord," he muttered, turning his back to the old man.

  Jira took a deep breath and combed his hand through his long white hair.

  "I'll keep an eye on him," Jensen told him, laying his hand on the old man's back. "I will."

  "Thank you, Jensen," he sighed. "But Kiriko will continue to do as he feels he needs to. It is nothing new."

  Richard felt like he should say something, but the thought was interrupted by a stray droplet. He looked upwards and saw the barrier's light had begun to dull even further. An instant later, another droplet fell on his face, followed quickly by another. The rain was starting to pass through their magic.

  "The time has come," Jira murmured, his attention above. "Please, all of you, be safe."

  Chapter Sixteen

  Eren

  Eren's hair clung to his skull as the rain pierced the barrier and fell on their heads.

  "Damn," Eilon muttered, staring upwards. "The veil's decline has quickened."

  Richard turned to meet his eyes, concern flickering between the blues of his irises.

  "We'll be fine, go," Eren pressed. "I'll keep an eye on Mister Magic; you just help the big man take care of things."

  "Of course," Richard agreed. "Don't annoy Eilon. And be careful, all of you."

  He allowed a forced grin before pivoting on his heel to race after Andros.

  "Keep your sword up, do not waver," Khora suggested as she set her hand on Edmund's shoulder.

  "I will," Eren nodded. "You two keep your eyes open. Don't step on any babies."

  She offered a weak smile as Jira led them away.

  Edmund looked back, a remorseful stare aimed at his friend, but he kept moving along with the others.

  Eren felt empty for a moment but turned to face Eilon as the rest faded from sight.

  "Just two of us now, eh? Is there anything wizardly you might need my help with?"

  The mage furrowed his brow for a moment as he scanned Eren's face.

  "What's your name, young man?"

  "Eren," he answered, glancing at Eilon as he approached.

  "Lend me your hand, Eren," the mage requested.

  He hesitated but brought his arm up and stretched it towards the sorcerer as requested. The other man mirrored the gesture with his right hand, and on the skin of his forearm appeared the golden mark of his Blessing. It seemed to crackle as a ball of radiant energy formed in his palm, its warmth calling Eren forth and stirring something in his chest. He reached for it, wanting nothing more than to feel the light trickle through his fingers. However, Eilon abruptly pulled his hand away from him.

  "What happened?" he asked, watching as confusion spread across the wizard's face.

  "You've… already been granted protection. I sense you have been touched by another who wields Divine Light."

  "I don't understand."

  "It doesn't matter right now," the sorcerer whispered. "All I can do now is attempt to reinforce it with my own power."

  The ball of light he had carried in his hand began to fade away, and it was replaced by a marking on the flat of his palm. Eren squinted for a moment and thought it looked a bit like a chain-link circle.

  Without a word, Eilon pressed his hand against Eren's chest, and chains composed of golden light surged across his body. Once his limbs were secured, the chains brightened and immediately vanished.

  "What the hell was that?" Eren muttered, rubbing the spot on his breastplate where the chains had sprouted from.

  "I've done my best to seal whatever Divine Light was already placed within you," Eilon told him. "It won't hold, not against these enemies, but it will last longer than it might've before."

  He slipped his hand beneath his armor and pressed it to his chest. He could feel the energy moving within it. His mind felt clearer than it had in days.

  "Why didn't you do this to the others?" he asked.

  Eilon glanced at him but moved closer to the scroll as he avoided his eyes.

  "It may sound callous to say it, but as much as I would like to help them… I couldn't burn through my strength so quickly," the wizard sighed. "I gave it to you because you're this scroll's last line of defense, but I must conserve my energy to revitalize the barrier."

  "You're right," Eren muttered, his eyes narrowing. "That does sound callous."

  He thought of adding another remark, but the sound of charging steel rang through the air. He turned and faced the direction in which it had come. It was impossible to tell what exactly was happening from where they were standing— but it was clear that the battle had begun.

  His hand fell on the hilt of his blade, and he gritted his teeth. Part of him wanted to be there, fighting at Richard's back and protecting Andros while he threw around his greatsword. Yet, another part of him, a much more tangible part, believed it was better this way. He had failed to help Danis and failed to protect Aven. Eren would not let himself become a liability to someone else on the battlefield.

  "Don't worry. No matter what obstacles present themselves, Andros will succeed."

  Eren whipped around to look at the wizard.

  "Is he really as tough as he seems to think he is? Or did someone just slap a title on him to make him feel superior?"

  Eilon smirked at the question.

  "Summerstone wasn't the first to adopt the Sentinel title, but it is one we uphold proudly," he explained. "Only those who have truly earned the title have been allowed to claim it. Whole generations have come and gone without someone new being anointed. Andros is no exception."

  Eren crossed his arms over his chest.

  "Maybe Azra should have Sentinels too," he wondered aloud. "I know a few people who would've been good Sentinels, I think."

  He held back a laugh as a memory from his adolescence came back to him. Captain Finnegan had chased him across Castle Azra's courtyard in a shirt that was too tight and pants that were too large. He was barefoot and slinging curses while Eren burst away from him, laughing and crying while he ran. It seemed Finn's clothes had been misplaced while he was bathing, and he was the one who was blamed. It had been him, of course, but he was not sure how the battlemaster realized it.

  Eren flinched as a thunderous clap erupted above their heads. He looked up and saw a long, jagged crack form in the golden veil that stood over Solton.

  "It's already grown damaged…" the sorcerer muttered. "Fine— the time has come for me to do my work."

  Eren watched as the mage knelt on the ground near the scroll and raised his hands over the parchment. The mark of his Blessing materialized, and wisps of light were discharged from across his upper body. The energy coalesced near his hands and infused the scroll with his power, forming a stream of golden light that began to shoot upwards. It flowed into the fissure above and slowly repaired the barrier.

  Eren could not pull his eyes away from the golden stream
and the radiant heat that lingered around it. All of his unease melted away, along with any snow that remained in a four-feet radius of them. The magic reminded him of his youth and of the pleasant memories he made during that time. It was beautiful.

  Incredibly beautiful.

  "Don't touch it!"

  Eren returned to the present and saw his hand trembling inches away from the fountain of arcane power.

  With his other hand, he pulled his arm back and held it close to his chest.

  "I-I'm sorry," he apologized. "I don't know what came over me."

  The mage looked frustrated for a moment, but the sentiment passed, and he simply shook his head.

  "Don't be ashamed; it's a natural reaction," Eilon reassured him. "Ethereal magic has that effect when gathered in large quantities. It takes a great deal of discipline to ignore the compulsion. Just take a few steps back, and focus."

  Eren stared at him quietly, his fingers fidgeting slightly. Eilon looked up at him and saw the confusion splattered across his face. The wizard's expression returned to frustration.

  "This obliviousness to magic is no longer as quaint as it may have been before," he chastised. "None of my students on Summerstone were ever as ignorant as some of you have appeared to be."

  Eren twiddled his fingers and tilted his head.

  "So…" he slowly said. "Ethereal magic… is that… new?"

  Eilon's brow wrinkled as he shut his eyes. Eren hadn't paid much attention before, but he could see sweat dripping down the wizard's face.

  "You're quite lucky that your cluelessness is making it easier for me to ignore the strain of maintaining this," the sorcerer groaned. "An example that an educator's work is never done."

  Eilon gripped his wrist to support it as it hovered over the parchment. The skin around his mark had begun to redden, and his arm was shaking.

  "You're aware of Primordial magic, yes?" the mage grumbled, his eyes on his work.

  "Stuff of the Ancients, right?" Eren replied. "Dragons too, I think."

  He nodded, his eyes closing for a moment as he took a shaky breath.

  "Correct. Primordial magic comes from the earth and is a power that our precursors harnessed. However — while it is potent — it is crude and wild. Ethereal magic is a refined form of that; Primordial energy flows out of this realm to a place… a place that lies beyond our reach. It returns to our world purified and powerful, and living things harness it for various purposes. It is lifeblood to the giants and the ogres, yet to men and elves, it is but another means of strength. Due to… the mysterious nature of its origin, some, including myself, believe Ethereal magic to be the breath of the Gods themselves."

  "I keep hearing about these 'Gods' of yours," Eren said, a hint of snarkiness in his tone. "Tell me about that, would you?"

  For a moment, Eilon broke his attention away from the scroll and scanned the young man's face.

  "No," the wizard denied. "I've known people like you. Obtuse and belittling. I don't have the energy to argue about the celestial workings of this world."

  Eren opened his mouth to defend himself, though he knew there was no defense, when the sound of cracking glass drew his attention elsewhere. To his left, pounding against the golden veil, stood a pack of Seekers intent on entering the village.

  "I can still hear the battle raging," he whispered, eyes on the erratic skeletons. "How are they here already?"

  "They must have slipped away, or maybe reformed away from the clash," Eilon deduced. "It makes little difference. The veil's power should destroy them."

  A winding crack appeared in the barrier as they continued their assault. It did not look as if they were being affected by its energy.

  "Are you sure?" Eren questioned, his eyes on the attackers.

  "It happened before," the wizard mumbled. "They threw themselves into the barrier and were eradicated; my magic must not be powerful enough to mimic that effect."

  "But they won't be able to get in, right?"

  "I would hope not," the mage whispered.

  "Hope?" he repeated, bitterness on his tongue. "And here I thought you were an expert on all this madness."

  "Make no mistake, I am an expert," Eilon huffed. "But this isn't something I ever imagined I would have to confront. Before this, I thought only one of Osgoroth's Heirs might be capable of performing such powerful dark magic."

  "Well, could our enemy be one of these… heirs?"

  "What?" the wizard groaned, an absent look in his eyes. "No, no, Azeron claims the title — surely you have to have heard of — ah, but it doesn't matter. The magic driving these creatures is potent, and they're beginning to resist my efforts. I'm afraid it won't be long now before one of them breaks through."

  "Damn it," Eren cursed. "You know, you're not quite as useful as I thought you'd be."

  "Why don't we switch places then?" Eilon grumbled. "You can try using your own body as a conduit for vast arcane energy and see if it doesn't cook your organs or damage your spirit."

  Eren's lip curled in disgust, and he gripped the hilt of his sword.

  "That sounds unpleasant, so I'll leave it to you. I'll just try to bash the hell out of them instead."

  "That seems wise," the mage mocked. "Your blade should be more effective against them now, so don't hesitate."

  Eren raised his eyebrows and drew his sword. His jaw fell open as he looked upon his blade and the thin veil of light that coated it.

  "Wow," he gasped. "So, can I poke this through the magic thing, or will that harm it?"

  "It'll be fine, go," Eilon urged. "Hurry— they're making quick progress."

  Eren nodded and jogged over to the barrier's edge. He counted seven Soul Seekers needling away at the veil, none of which paid him any mind as he approached.

  "Well, he did say it would be fine," he repeated, raising his blade above a Seeker's ribcage.

  With a grunt, Eren brought the sword down with as much strength as he could muster. It passed through the veil effortlessly and sliced the monster in two. The creature erupted as he pulled back his arm. It had felt like he was cutting water.

  He scanned the ground for a moment and confirmed the Seeker was truly dispelled.

  "Oh, if only you'd been magical earlier," Eren wished. "Things would have been much more enjoyable."

  "Focus!" the wizard called from afar.

  "Yes, right," he whispered, raising his blade. "Six more strikes and my work is done."

  He took a step closer to the barrier, and this time swept his sword across a skeleton's head. It burst, just like the last had, and its remains were scattered by the wind and rain.

  Eren gripped his blade tightly as he prepared for another attack when the hair on the back of his neck stood up. He could feel someone standing behind him.

  "You mischievous brat."

  He whipped around, ready to defend himself, but there was nothing. Eilon was the only person around, and he was still kneeling by the scroll.

  "Did you call me a brat, Eilon?" he accused. "Not very kind at all."

  The wizard turned his head to look at him.

  "I did not-" he began before abruptly pausing. "What is happening over there?"

  Eren wrinkled his brow and followed the other man's eyes as they stared ahead. He could not help but take a step back when his own gaze met the fire that had begun to spread across the sky. He was mesmerized by the sheer volume of it— and its red-orange coloring.

  "How is there…" he began to ask himself.

  There was no time for questions, however, as Eren felt a gust of frigid wind lash his face. His eyes darted to his side and watched as the remaining Seekers piled through the tear in the veil. They stormed forward, forcing him to quickly jump backward, and slip in the wet snow. He felt a jolt run up his spine as one of the Seeker's blades struck his back and recoiled against Eilon's magic.

  He squirmed out of the way of a second strike and rose to his feet, sword in hand.

  "Are you-" Eilon tried to ask.

  "
I'm fine! Keep your focus on your work. Can you mend the barrier?"

  "I'll attempt it, but I cannot be interrupted!" he replied, his chest heaving.

  "Leave that to me," the young man groaned, watching his enemies carefully.

  For a moment, it seemed as if none of them would move to attack him until one dashed forward, black blade in hand, with the rest close behind. Eren smirked as he swung his sword, aiming to shatter the blade and rip its torso in half. His face curled in surprise when his attack did nothing more than slightly crack the monster's sword. Eren spared a second to glance at his own weapon and saw that the light coating it had begun to flicker. He wondered if it was an effect of being struck but did not have much of an opportunity to think before his hand started to throb in pain.

  Eren brought his blade up in time to deflect another strike, and the sword's energy reverberated up the blade and into his arm. Each impact he defended against tarnished the light of his sword and shot pain into his body.

  It was less than manageable.

  "There's a lot of you bastards," Eren growled, deciding to dodge a swing rather than catch it with his own.

  The Seekers were unflinching in their advance toward him and the sorcerer he defended. The skeleton closest to him displayed fractures in its bones and blade but was unyielding in its every attack. The monster's ferocity gave Eren few opportunities to strike, but he quickly realized even Soul Seekers were affected by the slick terrain.

  The creature lunged forward, and he took the chance to kick its leg out from under it. The skeleton fell into the snow, exposing its spine for Eren to drag his sword across it, banishing the monster.

  He took a few deep breaths as he scanned the remaining opponents.

  "Four left," he muttered, pushing his wet hair away from his eyes. "I'm starting to wish Kiri had stayed."

  Eren lifted his blade and examined the light that still clung to the steel. It was nearly gone, and he knew it was the same case with whatever protections lay on his skin. Only a few more good strikes remained before he was just as vulnerable as before. He knew he had to make each one count.

  "Come on!" he spurred, eyes on the monsters. "The faster we end this, the faster I get out of this damn rain!"