Chapter 1: Chapter 1 – Love and War

{[From a soul that’s forgotten, and a love that’s forbidden, a hero will rise. A blade of white roses, a soul never meant to be… Lips that savor the kiss of death will find hope and calamity. Until legends decay, and the world blossoms anew.]}

“Second platoon isn't responding.” A fully armored soldier carrying an ACR with state-of-the-art equipment and a headpiece with night vision NODs led the way. Most of his magazines were spent.

“They’re more than likely dead.” Another soldier replied quickly. In his arms, he carried a young child. The boy glanced around slowly. A head wound kept him drowsy. “They gave us a sit-rep before we lost contact with them. They mentioned encountering an Arch-demon…”

“Seriously? I’ve only heard rumors about those monsters.”

“Those aren’t just rumors. One Arch demon ripped apart Echo company three years ago… It takes platoons worth of soldiers to take one down… Unless you’re as skilled as her… Airodu has killed a dozen or so by herself.”

The soldiers studied the woman acting as the platoon leader. She was as tall as the male soldiers with a body of a seasoned athlete.

“Mom?” The boy half-whispered, half gasped.

“He's awake.” The soldier spoke to the only woman in the platoon. “Captain, Airodu.”

Airodu was the only one not wearing body armor, nor did she carry any firearms. Her hair was as dark as coal, and her eyes were so light blue they almost appeared gray. In a second, she was next to the soldier carrying the boy.

“Ananias.” She wiped away the blood on his head with her hand. “We’re going somewhere safe.”

Ananias tried focusing on his surroundings. He was at that age where you first start to understand the world.

“Captain, the church!”

Ananias glanced forward. With his vision taking shape, he studied the old building. It was made of red brick, and parts of it had decayed over time. A place Ananias and his mom stayed a few weeks ago. The doors were opened, and they all rushed inside.

“Three-sixty security!” The woman ordered. The last of her men scattered and readied themselves with their assault rifles. They positioned themselves a few steps away from the old windows. Enough to get a view outside but not close enough for the gun barrel to stick out the window and give away their positions.

Her eyes pivoted around the church. It had a main twin door entrance made with heavy mahogany. Unfortunately, it also had rusting hinges. And at the end of the church was another entryway. Made of the same material but easier to obstruct since it was a single door. “Use the pews to barricade the rear entrance. We'll face them head-on when they break through.”

Ananias studied the soldiers. They were all wearing black camouflage and armed to the teeth.

One thing about their uniform stood out. They didn't have flags on their shoulders. Instead, they had a patch of the world with the words ONE around it. They were large and strong, like bears.

“You got scuffled up.” The Captain reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. With it, she wiped away the blood rolling down Ananias’ head. She inhaled and coughed a few times heavily. Using her hand, she covered her mouth, but it did nothing to stop the blood her body coughed out.

“Captain.” One of her soldiers broke away from his defensive position. “You're condition is getting worse. I don't recommend engaging the enemy… Let us handle them…”

“I appreciate your concern, Lieutenant. But we don't have that luxury.” She wiped the blood off on her cargo pants. And slowly walked towards her objective. “This church will delay the demons. Their bodies will burn, but it won't kill them. Resolve yourselves. This is where we make our last stand... They want what I hid away here… If they take it or destroy it, we've lost the war…”

In the center of the church, alongside the pews, stood a marble statue. Airodu smirked. She ended up coming back here after all.

The statue was of an angel with outspread wings, like an eagle as it ascends. Her head tilted up towards the sky as if to keep an everlasting guard on the world. A beautiful piece of art abandoned and neglected yet untouched by time.

Ananias' eyes widened, and a small smile escaped. The angel reminded him of his mother. Their gazes and presence were similar. Both the women were beautiful and demanded respect. Ananias stepped closer to the statue and studied the weapon in its hands.

A staff.

The angel's fingers reflected through the staff. It was smooth to the touch and carved from a diamond. The bottom of the weapon consisted of a curved blade hooked to a tiny nub. It refracted a faint blue hue. Lastly, the top had a broken sphere with fractured gems floating around it magically. Some of the gems were missing leaving it an incomplete sphere.

Airodu sighed heavily. “I can't ever seem to get rid of you… Even if you're the reason I'm dying.” She spoke to the weapon. Then her eyes wandered down towards the child at her feet. His eyes were filled with astonishment, the same as hers when the weapon was first bound to her.

Airodu knelt until Ananias was at her height. Their eyes were identical, right down to how they changed in the light and darkness. “Elementals take the last name of their weapon. It was mine, and now it'll be yours.”

Ananias rubbed his dry hands together and kept his eyes low to avoid his mother’s. Airodu found that odd since he was always so cheerful.

“It’s okay to talk, Ananias.” She changed her tone to one that wasn’t as direct. “You’re not ready for the weapon, but we share the same blood. I'm certain only you can use it to its full potential.”

“But it’s yours.” He spoke meekly.

“I'm not strong enough to use it anymore… After what happened in London with Aria, my body isn't what it used to be… And the world needs that weapon. They need the Airodu… They need you…”

Ananias didn’t say a word.

“Your smile is brighter to me than every galaxy in the sky… I don’t want to see that weapon take that away from you.”

“My smile?” Ananias raised his eyebrow.

A single bolt flew across the night sky, nailing a soldier’s exposed neck. He tumbled back and landed next to Ananias.

“Contact!” The soldiers roared, and their bullets ripped across the world.

Ananias' eyes widened with terror as the man below him gasped dreadful breaths. The wound turned black and rotted away his flesh to nothing more than ash. In a manner of seconds, the bolt's power faded, leaving a mortal wound, then the blood escaped around the ash.

Ananias took a step back. Before he panicked, Airodu’s hand gripped his shoulder. He pivoted towards her. Unlike him, she was calm.

“Never show weakness… The moment you do, you'll die…” She spoke loud enough for him to tune in, even with all the gunfire around them. Ananias calmed himself, even if he was faking it. The boy obeyed his mother regardless.

“How many are out there!” She barked.

“Too many. We don't have the firepower to stop them!” The LT replied as the man next to him took an arrow to the eye. He froze, then tumbled forward. “Their bolts are rotting the church. If we stay here, the building will collapse on top of us!”

“Do you have eyes on the Arch?” Airodu's eyes sharpened. That was her true target. “If we kill it, then the Lessers will scatter!”

None of the soldiers spoke. They focused their fire. Squeezing the trigger slowly. If they found the Arch, they would speak up.

Outside the building, surrounding the old church, were the remnants of the forgotten war. Warriors cursed to live among those they hate. Limited with what they can do, unquenchable desire an arm's length away from them, kept at a distance thanks to God's Luck.

They didn’t wear a uniform, but they were organized. Firing arrows from bows and bolts from crossbows. Firing volleys then quickly taking cover. Against bullets, they were easily wiped out, but their numbers far outweighed Airodu's fifteen-man squad.

The heavy church doors slammed against their hinges. Knocking down hidden dust around its trim. Airodu calmly stood and smiled at her son. “You'll find her, the girl that'll bring about the end of this tireless war. Your soul is bound to the staff, and the staff is bound to her.”

“Airodu!” The Lieutenant fired a few spare rounds through one of the church windows, nearly avoiding a bolt. “We've lost a third of our forces, and still no Arch!”

“That coward hides behind his disciples.” The door crumbled inwards. Some parts of it were rotting away. “Take positions. I'll face the brunt of their forces!”

The soldiers rushed away from the windows, using pews for cover. The Lieutenant scrabbled and grabbed Ananias.

The doors caved inward, and the wood rotted away at its hinges. Turning black and splintering away like a worn-out thread.

Warriors entered the church. Their footsteps echoed heavily. In seconds their skin burned, and white smoke spewed out of their pores. They grunted in pain, but through tolerance, they entered a place forbidden to them.

Airodu pulled invisible strings, her wind wrapped around her hands like strings in an endless roll of yarn. Her fingertips, wrists, elbows, and arms all pulled on them. Only those who were gifted with the power of the wind had the eyes to discern the strings.

The strings wrapped around her sword, sharpened it, guided it, and became one with it.

These strings connected directly from the weapon to her soul.

Gunfire ripped through the church, eradicating the first wave of demons.

As their lifeless bodies tumbled, then the echo of glass shattering caught Ananias's attention. The weapons each demon carried broke and shattered into dozens of pieces. They, too, had weapons bound to their souls, and upon their deaths, their weapons died with them. Ananias grasped why the Airodu was so precious. It had survived this long without breaking. Every wielder of the staff had passed it down.

The second wave of demons pushed forward, firing bolts and arrows. Airodu spun her hand, strings smashed against the projectiles knocking them off course. This gave her soldiers a few extra seconds to aim properly and fire their weapons. Again, the wave was wiped out.

“Last magazine!” One of the soldiers behind her screamed.

The third wave of demons rushed in, some tripping over the cadavers of their allies. The gunfire died down. Most of her soldiers switched to their sidearms and engaged.

Swords, spears, axes, hammers, spiked bats. Every demon had a different weapon. Airodu readied herself, taking the stance of a seasoned warrior. As they closed the distance, the woman cut them down with ease.

Parrying away spears and wide sword strikes, Airodu evaded every attack with minimal effort. Pulling strings around her, the wind itself helped push away some attacks.

Some demons passed by her, rushing towards the soldiers. As they did, their faces were intoxicated, ecstatic, and passionate.

The act of murder was the only thing lesser demons desired. It was a drug that gave them purpose, and if they killed enough, they were granted power and blood that allowed them to lead other demons.

Handguns fired, taking down demons as they closed the distance towards them. One landed a few feet away from Ananias, and an extra bullet to the head ended him. The boy studied the demon’s eyes that were still open. Around the white of his eyes were black scratches. A mark all demons shared.

As for the Captain. She was in the heat of the battle, taking the blunt force of the aggressors. Around Ananias, gunfire died out, then came the demons. Tumbling and ramming their blades into the soldiers. One by one, the armored men stained the church with their blood.

The man holding Ananias' shoulder emptied the last of his clip, nailing the last demon that closed the distance. Then he holstered his weapon and pulled out a combat knife. Ananias glanced up and, even at his age, perceived that the man was in shock. He was down to his last weapon.

As for the demons at the entrance, they hesitated. The woman before them was well trained. One of the demons made a small circle with his hand.

The others got the hint and surrounded the Captain. They were completely ignoring Ananias and the last soldier.

Catching on, Airodu altered her stance, holding her sword closer to her chest. The demons gave each other glances when they were satisfied. They then charged. Their mistake in an attack like this was the chaos it created. The young mother thrived in anarchy. She dodged a quick jab, amending her footwork. Then she attacked the exposed parts of their armor.

She took down two with ease. Their weapons shattered as they died at the end of her blade. Every clash between their steel made Ananias jolt down and tightened his grip on the soldier's arm.

With their numbers dwindling fast, the survivors hesitated. A demon stepped back. With her peripheral vision, she focused on the boy. Ananias’ eyes widen.

Madness roared in the demon's minds. Insanity calmed only by the power of Arch-demons and when they robbed others of their lives.

Ananias focused on her. The white of her eyes were scratched black. She broke away from the fight. Heavy footsteps rushed towards him. Ananias closed his eyes as tightly as his body allowed.

Desperation filled the mother’s mind. Their fight was with her, not with her son. Then, breaking out of the circle, she took two light cuts on her arms, a fair price to kill the demon targeting her boy.

A mistake she trained hours upon hours to avoid doing. But to protect her son, she would risk her life tenfold. She had averted her eyes from the battle and left her body open to attacks.

The smallest of all the demons linked his arms around her. His yellowed teeth bit her neck and found blood.

She grunted with the pain as the remaining two demons pounced on her. Encumbered, she lifted her sword for defensive strikes. The small man refused to let her go. He was like a starved dog that finally got a hold of a bone.

Her eyes met Ananias, his hands reached out for her, but the Lieutenant held his body back. For a second, she sighted an emotion in his eyes that had never manifested before.

It was fear.

Two demons glanced at Ananias and then at each other.

A weakness to exploit.

They shifted their positions and rushed from two separate sides. No matter what Airodu did, they had their target set. Out of options and on edge, rage flooded her mind.

“You have to go!” She screamed, turning the sword on herself, stabbing through her stomach at an angle that ripped through the short demon's chest. Then, as quickly as it entered, she pulled her sword out.

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Ananias fell to his knees, losing his grip on the soldier. His insides twisted and knotted. The man quickly picked up the boy with his left arm and kept his blade at the ready.

The two remaining demons both took a second to process what she had just done. That second was all she needed. Her sword swung overhead, breaking through a skull, leaving her arms sore from the blow.

The last one launched himself towards Ananias desperately.

His final mistake.

She thrust her sword with a bitter rage. It flung past him ripping his neck, cutting deep enough for the kill. The LT ducked as the sword bounced past him and rolled back towards his Commander.

Fading from his chest wound, the demon the mother had stabbed through her body loosened his bite. She had almost forgotten that nuisance.

He let go and stumbled to his side. Airodu’s kick propelled him towards the statue. Colliding with it knocked the staff out of the angel’s hands.

Airodu’s eyes stayed on the demon. Her target’s breath faded slowly, then stopped. Lastly, his sword shattered.

“It's over,” she let herself fall to her knees, exhausted as her adrenaline faded. The anguish forced her hands back on her wounds. Unfortunately, they were not enough to stop all the bleeding. “He’s safe.”

“Captain!” The LT rushed towards her, quickly leaving Ananias on the floor surrounded by corpses. He opened his med bag, grabbed his gaze, and quickly injected her neck with morphine. “That was careless!”

“Ananias…” The effects of the morphine diluted her pain. “My son… The staff…”

“He’s fine.” He quickly started unpacking the sterile bags, laying them around her. It was a miracle she was still conscious. But she was renowned as the 'Bleeding Dove.' The only soldier to survive against an immortal. “We have the staff. Now we have to keep moving.”

“He needs the staff.” She muttered with bitter breaths.

“That can wait.”

Ananias grabbed the staff, a weapon wielded by great leaders. He borrowed their courage and took a few steps toward her. The blood made him gasp and heave. Fighting back the urge to vomit, he kept steady paces, passing the dead demons.

“Ananias?” Her words were no more than a whisper. “What are you doing?”

Ananias continued walking towards his mother, slipping on the demon’s blood with every step he took, fighting his instincts to run away. Her words returned to him.

“Never show weakness. The moment you do, you’ll die.”

His eyes stayed on her, avoiding the gore around him. He tumbled and fell on his mom, covering himself in the red fluid.

For a few seconds, Ananias inspected his hands. They were warm, sticky, and reeked of iron. He lifted his palms towards his mom and asked. “What is this?”

“Its blood, my little angel.” Gripping both his hand and the staff. She poured her power into the weapon, finishing the rest of the chant. “Your life will be drenched in it.”

Red drops dripped from the staff, giving it a lighter hue. His strings merged with the Airodu staff.

Ananias’ soul became one with the Airodu.

“I don't like this color,” he muttered, trying to sound brave.

Outside the church, screams echoed, followed by gunshots. The door was still open, inviting the enemy to enter.

“That’s either second or third platoon.” The man spoke quickly.

“Roger…” She grasped the Lieutenant's arm and pleaded with him aggressively. “They're all going to die. You need to take him and run.”

She clutched her neck and stomach, realizing the pain intensified when she let go of her wounds.

“No,” her son whispered. This caught them both off guard. He gazed into her eyes with a rebellious leer, waiting for her guidance. She needed to be a mother, something she struggled with at times. War had robbed her of that luxury.

Bringing her head closer to him, Airodu kept an air of love and patience. “You know what you must do. Who you must find.”

Ananias nodded. He didn’t grasp why but his eyes were watering.

“You have to make sacrifices in war.” She coughed up blood. “You two have to leave me here.”

“Sacrifice?” He whispered to himself. Ananias grasped what the word meant, but he didn’t fully understand what she wanted.

“Go now.” She ordered as Roger picked up the Airodu staff and found a half-empty magazine for his sidearm. “You’re not strong enough to protect me.”

“Then I’ll become stronger than you.” Ananias stuttered with childish courage.

“Ananias.” Even holding her wounds, blood found a way to seep out. She was lightheaded. “You have to go. One day you’ll understand. I wasn’t strong enough to protect you. If you want to surpass me, then never show weakness… This world will destroy you if you do…”

Confused with her words, he did what his instincts told him. He leaned closer and hugged her, embracing the color he despised. This came as a surprise to her, and for a second, all her pain disappeared. She had purposely neglected to give him affection. This was the first time he had gone out of his way to hug her. A euphoria they didn’t want to let go of.

A warmth that war had robbed them from enjoying. Her regrets were one thing, something she chose for herself, but she refused to have her child suffer for her sins. Shifting gears, her voice became nothing but confidence once more. “Become stronger, Ananias... I know you have it in you.”

“I promise,” Ananias gave her a bright smile. She reached for her neck and removed a silver necklace with a pendant. The medallion had a unique design, a half-moon with three crescent curves, each chained to one another and in the center a sphere. The sign of wind. This was a mark of their power, passed down by their ancestors, and a way all elementals found one another. They were hidden from the world except for those who had broken God's Luck. She put it on her son's neck with a smile, getting some blood on his collar and chin. A tradition passed down to the firstborn for generations. It was given to them once their parent accepted them as a warrior. “Never forget that promise. Never forget me. Not the Key, not the Elementai, you Ananias… You are meant for something greater.”

She may have lacked affection, but she did have one thing invested in him. Pride. Was she scared to die? No. Instead, she was afraid she hadn’t lived enough for his sake. It’s cruel how these revelations only come when you’re on the verge of death.

Footsteps stormed through the entrance, and once again, demons entered the church, and once more, their bodies burned.

Roger fired at the enemies, peppering them quickly with what was left of his platoon's ammo. As he did, he rushed towards Ananias. Roger grabbed the boy and took a second to study the woman who had given him everything. He wanted to carry her out of this nightmare. But she had done her part. The staff was in the hands of a wind elemental once more.

“Mom.” Ananias reached out towards her, but Roger carried him away. Taking him towards the second exit. “MOM!”

It would've been less painful if someone had ripped her heart out through her chest than it was agonizing that her only son was begging to stay with her. Their footsteps were the last thing she focused on as they disappeared into the wilderness. Each step meant they were safer.

“Run, my son. I know I'm going to die, but your smile...” She smiled, recalling his cheerful eyes, accepting she'd never see him grow into a man. “I'd rather see your smile than your tears before my end.”

Demonic reinforcements entered the church. Their eyes focused on the exit. In the distance, a soldier carried a boy and a staff.

“They’re escaping!” Two demons quickly rushed towards him, passing Airodu. They figured she had died along with their comrades. Pulling invisible strings with her mind and body, she commanded the wind, blowing herself towards the demons, killing them both quickly with two slashes.

“NONE OF YOU WILL HURT MY SON!” Roared the mother, forgetting her wounds and taking her last stand like a lioness protecting her young.

Madness lavished the minds of the Lesser demons like oxygen to a drowning mammal. Airodu readied her sword and took the stance of a veteran soldier.

More demons charged and perished. Slashing with the skill of a legendary warrior, spilling blood on the wooden walls and floor like art. She was the painter, and her sword was the brush.

Two more took their place for every demon she killed. Until a tall demon took his first steps in, his skin didn't burn as he entered this once holy sanctuary. His mind was clear. The desire to kill was his own choice.

Her eyes adjusted on the demon. When she recognized his face, the mother’s composure shifted from angry to enraged.

“You!”

The demon smiled, a grin that would melt any woman's heart. However, he had one feature that stood out. On his back, he had large gray wings.

“What are you waiting for?” His voice was sweet, just a veil to hide how dangerous he truly was. “Finish her.”

Like a wave of water, every demon charged, running around their leader. She pulled her strings with all her might. Her eyes shifted to the same design as the necklace she gave away. “You took everyone I cared about!”

But you won’t take my son!

Invisible strings were pulled, air sharpened, and took form. The wind became blades and danced around her, destroying the flesh of all who dared oppose the warrior. Corpses fell at her feet. The iron aroma filled the room, and gore remained as lives vanished. Wind expanded, attacking the church, destroying pews, leaving them in pieces.

The roof was gone along with parts of the walls. Turning the wind into blades was exhausting. The Captain fell to her knees. Drained from the fight, pain pulsed in all her nerves, so much that keeping both eyes open was painful. Around her, the smoke started clearing, and odd parts of the church continued to collapse. Every demon had died except for the tall one. That monster's face was forever burned into her mind.

He took a few confident paces towards the mother, stepping over rubble and corpses alike. She needed to fight, even if he was something that wouldn’t die. Her hand gripped the handle of her sword tightly.

STAND UP! … MOVE! … FIGHT!

Her body wouldn’t obey anymore. The demon gripped the woman’s neck. He then lifted her up like a child, keeping his grip tight. Gasping for air, the mother fought to breathe. She was a lamb facing a wolf.

“Where is she?” Finding her second wind, the mother gripped his arm, trying to fight back. He wasn’t after her son. The target was the daughter of her best friend.

Someone Ananias would seek out and protect.

“You’ll never get your hands on her… That baby will save the world.” Her grip loosened. The young mother’s fight was gone, but not her willpower. Memories of Ananias flashed like a movie. Cursing fate, she wished she had time to train him, hold him, and more time to love him. She envisioned her son and spoke bitterly and defiantly, unsure of which baby she spoke of. “That child will kill you!”

He dropped her, irritated.

Exerting all her strength, the young mother lifted herself to her knees to glare at the demon.

Shocked was putting it lightly. His eyes gave away his emotions as they shifted. First from disbelief, then to rage.

Lightning pulsed out of his hands, shaping into a sword. The electrical discharge faded and all that remained was his weapon. Airodu always feared death was near, like a shadow that followed her, and kept wary eyes on every mistake she made. Would she be scared or defiant when that time came? Neither of those emotions clouded her mind.

Her son’s memory did.

Ananias would surpass her in strength and skill. This was something she was confident of. Hopefully, he wouldn’t make the same mistakes she did.

“Goodbye, my little angel.” She closed her eyes, reminiscing on his smile one last time before the slash came.

It was over in a second. Blood stained the angel’s wings, which survived the battle. More demons entered, examining the destruction in confusion. They circled their leader and waited for instructions. “Spread out, kill every soldier in this mountain.”

 

********

 

Roger bolted through the gloomy woods grasping the staff tightly with one hand and Ananias with his other. Ananias’ necklace kept bouncing off his chest with each step. Tired and expending his breath, they managed to escape without running into any demons. The echoes of war hadn't died out. Around Ananias, soldiers dressed in white rushed past them. None of them carried firearms.

“Elementals.” Roger smiled.

An explosion erupted behind him. One loud enough to wake the birds but not enough to shake the earth. Roger kept running as reinforcements passed by him. Hundreds of elementals rushed towards the battle. In his hands, the staff gave them all the information they needed. A new Airodu was chosen.

“Sacrifice.” Ananias finally absorbed the lesson.

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