Impure: Godslayers

“Keep your hands off her!” Lee exclaimed.

Ragnaghast smiled, as he looked condescendingly at the woman in front of him and back at Lee.

“Why would I want desert, when I can have another course,” Ragnaghast roared as he charged towards Lee.

Lee stood still, like a sacrificial lamb, allowing the giant to snatch him up. Ragnaghast pulled Lee’s chest to his face and embraced him aggressively. Yet instead of asphyxiating with his face in Lee’s chest, Ragnaghast grew. George regained consciousness just in time to see Ragnaghast grow exponentially. In a matter of seconds, Ragnaghast was ten feet tall, and his muscles were swollen to uttermost perfection. Gently pulling Lee’s chest from his face, Ragnaghast savoured the final taste of his meal.

“I am sated,”

As the words left Ragnaghast’s mouth Lee reached forward and grabbed the giant’s shoulders.

“What...”

Ragnaghast sputtered as his face was flattened against Lee’s chest. The tips of Lee’s fingers burned through Ragnaghast’s shoulders, so that his grip was quite literally bone deep. Ragnaghast gave a muffled scream. Although he was stronger, every attempt to rip Lee off him only resulted in a deeper burn on Ragnaghast’s shoulder. In the interim Lee’s blue flames were burning as intensely as ever and Ragnaghast had taken a bloated appearance.

“He is not so idiotic after all,” George croaked as he struggled to his feet.

Out of desperation, Ragnaghast crouched and swung his head to the ground, an impetuous move which caused him as much harm as it inflicted on Lee. The tears that welled up in Lee’s eyes as his back was smashed against the ground, evaporated instantly. Dazed, Ragnaghast struggled to stand up, however he was now too obese. In his gluttony, Ragnaghast had reached the peak of his height and had only being growing wider. He could not even hold Lee anymore for his arms were too fat to bend, his opponent was out of his reach. As Ragnaghast’s skin was stretched to its limit, and his muscle fibres started ripping out of his biceps, Lee maintained his grapple and his flame. Even as Ragnaghast’s bear pelt around his waist was lost beneath mounds of blubbery flesh, Lee’s blue flame did not falter. Ragnaghast gave one last muffled scream before he exploded, sending blood and guts everywhere.

Despite the dry summer, the people of Acules were still enjoying the benefits of the rainy winter. The bustling marketplace was especially vibrant, smiles may have been on their face, but talk of the impending war was hot on everyone’s lips. Even the washerwomen at one of the fountains in the slums were griping about the war.

“I am just glad I have no sons, lest the Ki-”

The washerwoman was so stunned, to see the stranger come swimming out of the drains of the pool that she was oblivious to the colour of the girl’s sclera.

“I am tired of you children disrupting us. Get out of the fountain,”

“Servilia, look at her eyes,” another washerwoman commented.

Servilia immediately regretted her hasty words as she along with the rest of the washerwomen bowed low.

“Forgive m-”

However before Servilia could utter another word, Avida stepped forward, hastily reaching for a drying cloth with a sense of urgency.

“May I?” Avida said as she motioned to one of the racks above the doorway of a nearby house.

“Yes oh great Avida,” Servilia said as she bowed.

Avida snatched a wet sheet and wrapped it around her body. She looked around suspiciously as she rushed into the crowd of bowing mortals and towards the city gates.

King Aldur stood with the three boys in front of the mead-hall, as he addressed the people.

“Since the days when my father ruled as King of Freydal we have been tormented by that god. Ragnaghast was heartless but he has met his end at the hand of these three, I told you they were the god-slayers. We are eternally indebted to them …especially Lee,”

Osy winced as his failed attempt to hold Lee back, aggravated his bruised and bandaged ribs. Meanwhile Lee gleefully stepped forward, right next to Aldur.

“You mortals lost a lot of soldiers to Ragnaghast. Their bravery will not be forgotten but only I was a match for him. …..This giant stood fifteen feet tall! He ate the hottest flames like they were food and I became as a blue ember and I said; did your mother teach you never to play with your food!” Lee exclaimed.

The people of Freydal cheered at Lee’s ego and magnanimity. Meanwhile Osy and George shook their heads and sighed.

“I have to go back to the ship, I cannot eat any of this ill prepared food and I will get us some saddles,” Osy said.

“Their cooking is so horrible that these long-bearded monkeys may as well eat raw food. However, I do not think you are going all the way back to the ship for seasoning and saddles,” George said as he massaged his bandaged knee.

“…I need to tell Lasters that this island is not deserted and to ask him about this fourth...I mean Norton never mentioned any other,”

“And?”

Osy pretended not to hear George’s words as he looked back at Lee basking in the attention and adulation of the people.

“And? Osy?” George reaffirmed.

“Fine, I was going to mention that we killed a god,” Osy sighed

“Osy no-”

“If he sees how easily we killed that Ragnaghast. He might take us to Shadro, we can save Norton,”

Suddenly George grabbed Osy’s shoulder aggressively, and pulled him into the mead-hall.

“Listen to yourself, you sound crazy, we are not Shadro’s match and you know it,” George hissed.

“Fine then I will face him alone,” Osy snapped as he pushed George’s arm away.

Singe, who had being sitting on the ledge of a well, turned his attention from Lee and towards the mead hall. He tried to climb George, but the boy shrugged him off with indignation. As George flicked his long blonde hair to see if Singe had left any nasty surprises, Osy caught the monkey and tickled him affectionately.

“Lee defeated Ragnaghast. We could not even face Ragnaghast, how you plan to face Shadro is beyond my conception,”

“Just stay here and keep an eye on Lee, I will be back tonight,”

Subsequently Osy stormed out of the mead-hall.

“I will leave Singe on the ship, it is no longer safe on this island,” Osy shouted so that even Lee would hear him.

He walked towards Kilowulf who was stood next to the stables, stroking a horse. The eight-legged beast neighed nervously as Osy approached.

“It is your eyes, puts a fright in him. Just do not make eye contact,”

George snorted as Osy mounted the horse, with some difficulty before he rode off into the misty marshes.

“What kind of name is Ragnaghast anyway? That is no name for a god much less a dog ahaha” Lee joked loudly.

George turned his attention back to the townspeople who were howling with laughter at Lee, like a pack of wolves paying homage to their alpha.

“Damned name sounds like a spell,” Lee said as he opened his eyes wide like a spooked owl.

He held his hands up in front of him and twiddled is fingers.

“Ragnaghast! Ragnaghast!”

Every time he said the name, a small burst of flame puffed out of his mouth.

“Idiot,” George sighed as he rolled his eyes in antipathy.

“You worthless mortal!”

Diantha’s voice echoed through the moonlit temple grounds. A priest flew out of the doorway of the underground cavern that led to the tombs. As he fell heavily, the sands lapped in the blood oozing from his neck. Several priests backed out of the cavern, bowing reverently and they were swiftly followed by Diantha. Regardless of the crimson stain of coagulating blood all over her mouth, Diantha was still strangely beautiful. It was the kind of beauty that a colourful spider possessed, eye-catching despite its deadly venom and predatory intent.

“How did you let one girl escape?” Diantha roared.

“She is a goddess,” a quivering priest answered with faltering voice.

“She is weak. All she can do is move water and you let her escape.”

“Forgive us” another priest yelled as he was rendered incontinent.

Diantha roared in anger.

“You mortals ahhh. So useless. I shall comb the streets of the three cities until I find her. Go to the docks at the two cities; ensure that no ships leave,”

“But it will be hard to convince the kings to halt their states’ trades due to some perverse divine intervention, when both of the deities are not here,”

“You are the Priest. I am sure you will think of something,”

“Yes but it is-”

Yet before the priest could finish his statement, Diantha reached forward and ripped his arm clean off his shoulder. The other priests winced as the chilling screams of the disabled priest echoed around the temple grounds.

“Any further questions?” Diantha asked as she tossed the severed arm aside aloofly.

The priests silently shook their bowed heads as they backed away.

“Must I do everything myself,” Diantha screamed as she sprinted into the night.

Osy conversed with Lasters as he gathered the items he required, from the stockpile below deck.

“A fourth child? Norton created me after your mothers were all safe. But Norton did tell me that they lost one mother, before she could conceive….… I always thought that meant she had passed,”

“Well?” Osy asked.

“That is of no importance as of yet … You said you defeated a god?”

“What? You do not believe me?”

“When Norton breathed life into me, I was also imbued with several feats. For instance, I can sense those with divine bloodline. For example Norton is an immortal, a fraction of a god and you are demi-god, half god. I felt the presence of no god on this island.”

“And just how reliable are your senses huh? You said this island was deserted, come to find there are hundreds of mortals here,” Osy derided.

“The true gods ascended long before I was created, I have never sensed one. Your siblings and those who brand themselves gods are the only demi-gods I have sensed. Although they are a great deal older and more powerful than you….I felt three demi-gods yesterday, you three. …I also sensed an immortal. Which means…”

Osy dropped the saddle in his hands as the gut-wrenching catharsis ripped through his mind.

“Ragnaghast was the child of a …..”

Almost like it was cued, a shrill, hollowing scream filled the air, as a huge gust of wind caused the whole ship to sway violently.

“What was that?” Osy asked wide-eyed.

“A demi-god,”

Osy was petrified and just stood there gaping.

“Get your siblings back here; let us flee from this island. You should have left the mortals to their fate!” Lasters snapped.

Lasters’ reprimand pulled Osy out of his stunned state and he snatched up a large bound package and a saddle. Osy ran up deck into the centre of a ferocious blizzard. Yet he braved the storm, saddled his horse and began to gallop back towards the settlement.

Lee stumbled out of the mead-hall doors, closely followed by the drunkards’ melodies and other sounds of Freydal festivities. Hiccoughing recurrently, Lee sauntered to the house, which George laid against. He tapped George roughly, but the boy was too deep asleep. Lee was about to poke George when he saw a fire in the distant marshes at the outskirts of the settlement. The marshes, which were between the settlement and a great mountain, had a river that flowed through it and towards the sea. Mired in darkness, several burning boats twinkled afar in the stream like stars in the night sky. Teary eyed and still as beautiful as ever, the moaning woman heard the distinct trudging footsteps of a drunk behind her.

“I am in no mood for merry-making, please leave me alone,”

“Are you sure?” Lee slurred.

The woman turned round and raised her torch. She gasped when she saw who she was addressing.

“Demi-god? Lee forgive me,”

“The men say your name is Helga, is that right,” Lee said as he raised her bowed head with a finger.

“Yes,” Helga said.

Suddenly Lee forced his lips on hers; however, Helga managed to pull away from the drunk. Whether it was the mead or the fact that he was such a megalomaniac, Lee did not care that he had just been rejected and just chortled.

“Forgive me Lee….my husband just died last night. I am still mourning,” Helga stammered nervously.

“No the fault is mine. If I was some nobody mortal and a demi-god who just saved my life the previous night tried to kiss me, I would refuse his advance too,” Lee said slyly.

Wiping the tears off her cheeks forcefully, Helga walked towards Lee and slapped his face. Although the slap had barely grazed him, the fact that a mortal woman would even dream of doing such a thing angered Lee. Yet before he could react, Helga pressed his lips forcefully on his. Lee was stunned and he looked at Helga as she closed her eyes and groaned pleasurably. He was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, so Lee picked up Helga and she was all too eager to clasp her legs around him.

A violent gust of icy wind suddenly began to blow. Over the loud gales there were multitude of screams and cries for help, but they stopped as suddenly as they had begun, taking the wind with them. Helga looked at Lee, with great fear in her eyes.

“Stay here,” Lee instructed.

He sprinted back into the settlement to find a George awake and gawking at the frozen mead-hall. They were summarily joined by Osy, who dismounted his horse and forced open the frozen doors of the mead-hall.

“What cold evil is this?!”Osy snapped.

The once lively hall was now filled with dead people. They were each frozen in place, eyes open, drinking, sitting or dancing. It was like they had been frozen instantly, their corpses covered in thick ice. This horrific sight traumatised George who remained silent; however it seemed to bring Lee out of his drunken state.

“I killed Ragnaghast. What manner of god is he? Did he reconstitute himself from blood and bone!” Lee shouted in disbelief.

Similar to a dog searching for a place to urinate, Diantha sniffed the air, the ground and the trees with growing dissatisfaction.

“Great I have lost her scent. She must have washed herself in all this damned water,” Diantha cursed.

She kicked some stones into the nearby river in aggravation.

Meanwhile some priests were searching the riverside and the patrolling the dark forests. They were aided by soldiers, some of which wore blue cloaks and the others wore black.

“Even with the aid of the Nomean and Aculean soldiers, she yet evades us. We have but minutes till daybreak,” a priest said.

“I cannot smell her, so I must sense her,” Diantha said thoughtfully.

Some horse-riders came tearing through the forest. Their leader, who was a priest, stopped in front of Diantha.

“All the docks are shut but the Helleni-”

Diantha put a hand up; silencing the priest as her eyes swivelled from side to side, darting from the trees in the forest to the river.

“That damned King Nilas is so hard-headed,” another priest chimed in.

“Shut up. She is here…I sense her now,” Diantha said.

She smiled triumphantly, revealing her extraordinarily long canines. Diantha strolled towards the river. For a long time she stood looking into the depth of one point in the river. Finally Diantha caught sight of a pair of eyes, with faint gold sclera staring back at her.

Avida gasped, releasing a mouthful of bubbles in the water, when she realised that Diantha had spotted her. Next Avida raised her hands up, just as Diantha was reaching into the river. Incomprehensibly, Diantha’s hand rebounded off the surface of the river, as though it was a solid object. Diantha was perplexed as she stubbornly pushed her hands onto the water surface with more intent, but found her palms pressed against it like it was a cold glass wall. Conversely the water was not frozen, for Diantha could still hear the river running and see the swimming fish beneath. It was like each individual water droplet was pushing back on any force trying to enter the river. The priests and soldiers all jumped on the river and began to stomp and smash their swords on its impenetrable surface. Meanwhile Diantha’s bewilderment had become a boiling pot of uncompromising anger. She knelt on the surface of the river, and smashed it with her forearms. This proved to be the straw that broke the camel’s back, for Avida winced like it was she who had been struck. After striking the surface a second time, Diantha smiled as some water splashed on her hands.

“She is weakening!” Diantha snarled arrogantly.

She raised her arms high with the intent of shattering through Avida’s defence, but Diantha withdrew her arms and screamed. She had been so engrossed by the hunt that Diantha had not realised the sun was rising. Some rays were piercing through the tree tops of the thick forest, and had severely burned her hands.

Looking momentarily at her badly scorched hands, Diantha then glared at Avida in the depths of river. She screamed with utter exasperation and sprinted back towards the temple grounds, closely followed by the rays of the rising sun.

With angry veins throbbing on her forehead, Avida persevered a little longer until the entire riverside was under the sun. Finally, Avida relinquished control of the river causing the soldiers and priests to all fall in. Avida took a moment to catch her breath, before she swam downstream, leaving her persecutors cursing as they struggled to get out of the river.