Chapter 12: Hope Part 2

"WWWWRRRRREEEEEEEE!!" A piercing screech formed from behind me, automatically inducing my body into a running motion, reverberated through the endless trees. My mind scattered with only the thought of running. I won't survive otherwise.

SO RUN!

I no longer maintained a stable flow of mana across my body, straining all the residue left in my crux at once coursing it straight to mostly my lower body and mind to keep up with acceleration. Doom groomed in depths of my consciousness warning me not to peer backwards, but my curiosity straddled me and instigated the turning of my head though all reason and logic defied it.

"It's not there." I breathed a sigh of relief, but instead of stopping, I stepped on the gas no matter the tole it was taking on my body, I needed to use this chance to escape. The crumbling noise of my shins eviscerating beneath each heavy stride I took crunched like a dead man grasping at the furniture in his house scrambling from inevitable death. My head, reflexively, jolted backwards to confirm my position repeatedly...yet this time a pair of leering red eyes glinted at me spreading wide open, similarly to the giant from before, but distinctively divergent to the norm.

"FUCK" escaped my mouth before an instant, "GUHHH" from the intense pain followed through, disseminating through my limbs that spat blood upon the strike so fast, my eyes never even recognised their approach nor it's intent. Tumbling through the russet dirt soaked in crimson red that wiped away from my body by the gentle rain that felt so acidic with each drop spurring an inkling pain from my gaping wounds near my arm. My legs could no longer function and my mana was thoroughly depleted meaning restorative mana was no longer an option.

Think, think! What could I do?

I grabbed the bag from my back and quickly took two sticks and bandages from it whilst the beast slowly tumbled its way over to me in its awfully irregular behaviour. I roughly wrapped the wooden sticks around my shins giving the stability and I made sure to cut off the blood supply to them.

I gritted my teeth in the response to the pain and grimaced at the beast who did so back in the same eerie wide spread grin the creatures had. Yet, this one showcased its personality so much more than the other one. It's conduct was too dissimilar to others of its kind. It's appearance on closer inspection also varied like its strangely enticed eyes that glowed more radiant than the rests. A minute purple rune seemed engraved in its back in aglow, yet mana was not present in this scripture. A fuel source perhaps, was my initial thought, and it rather tied in nicely as the heavier more demanding movements that would be all else impossible with its frame and capabilities showed, the distinctive light brightened a fair amount. The grasp of mana seemed to have also been deterred from its crux meaning it had no sensation, understanding nor use of mana, which should have killed it. Every living thing relies on mana and even non autonomous objects lingered with mana.

What stood before me was certainly an abomination and a mystery embodying the grim reaper chasing down its next prey.

I slowly scrambled of the floor, slipping in the deep puddles stored in the uneven dents formed in the land, but I was met with the cold hard sloppy mess directly in my face once more. The creature once more vanished without trace from behind me, reappearing in a hunched stance with its arms hanging low.

"Does this mean Eli died? To this thing? I wouldn't be surprised, I guess. Even the elites in the capital would struggle to combat such a beast." I released all thoughts of struggle turning on my back in surrender. "I guess failure doesn't change with a single achievement. I'm sorry, Eli. This hatred that I get when I look at you...still remains."

A soft and easy touch coiled around my hand. The nostalgia bred in the depths of my mind and heart, bringing me to cold winters morning...on that day, five years ago. His eyes tenderly looked on at my face, harnessing a sense of intelligence through his scarlet corneas. A calm face resounded through his features, unlike most new born, not a tear was wept from this child. The aura felt unnatural for a child, more like a seasoned warrior placed with a heavy defect on him, but his defenceless nature that elated a feeling that warmed my face, placed me at peace. He isn't me. I'm not my father. he expectations brought upon us were neither of our wishes. But I discriminated against my child, bearing hatred and envy towards the gifted being that was not me. I'm sorry Eli. I was unfit to be called your father.

"So...let me redeem myself." I began pushing of the ground with my arms, the giants presence no longer occupying my thoughts. "Just this once...let me be a good father. Let me avenge your death!" The desperate echo hurled from the depths of my lungs, the mana around me from the surroundings veiling me in a tempestuous tornado burst from flames.

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It's too late to realise my mistakes, after loosing you, my son, and being on the brink of death...but I wish for us to reconcile. No, for me to make it up to you...in gods kingdom.

The giant stepped back, alarmed by the burgeoning density in mana being drained from the surroundings, harnessing around me and revitalising my crux. The restorative mana began circulating once more and the flames that kindled in kind warmth, wrapped around me in comfort, burning away the supportive sticks I wore.

"HAGHHHHHH!" My battle roar matched the giants screech as the fire burning round me in a vortex engulfed my blade, condensing in a single point and bursting aloud again covering the swords details and spreading through my body in a navy blue pigmented weaving flame.

The beast dashed towards me, it's explosive speed no longer invisible, and I flung out the way leaving a blazing trail in the direct route I ran, that burned even through the rain and wind that deterred it. I felt my body detonating with energy, my right foot firmly cremating the ground and charring it into stable land and not the sloppy mess it was previously.

"This is for us, Eli." I whispered upwards to the great sinkhole leaking the rain at us. My feet pushed off in an instance, burning the tree behind me to ash, my sword cultivating its power in the curved edge I gripped in both hands over my shoulder.

It seemed unable to react to my movement. A clear indicated slash charred through the middle going from its head to its crotch. As my blade left, the blue flames evaporated from my body and sword and once more I collapsed to the floor in great pain, but fortunately no injuries this time.

"I...did...it."

Silence ensued after the final strike and its power fled away leaving just the torrential rain accompanied by its mistress, the wind.

Until, a great rumbling and creaking re-emerged like stone grinding and trees swaying. The giant swayed about like a drunken man, the wound inflicted clearly affecting it, yet the amethyst scripture on its back shone and began recovering its wounds. A pained shriek doused from its slumped, recovering, pathetic self and approached me, ready to deliver.

"Of course...this was always going to happen. See you soon, Eli." I left as the final words, my vision blurred by the creatures tyrannical fist hurling at me before flying off followed by its desperate shout, the purple splurge sullying me.

"Don't worry father. I'm still here."

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