The curse

Black clouds appear on the horizon, blocking the warm light of the winter sun. A thin layer of fog creeps over the cold ground. As dull thunders roll across the land, hatred rises in Katara's body. Her anger, her pain, forms itself in an abrupt storm wind that pulls on everyone's hair and clothes with invisible claws. "This time you will wail" she promises solemnly. Ice-cold raindrops escape from the dark clouds and form muddy pools. While vendors hastily shield their merchandise, the villagers flee to shelter from the sudden storm. The chilly wind whispers in his ear ... "Reki" Surprised, Reki straightens himself and gazes over the village square. "Reki" echoes in his ear again. "Sanctus espiritus" Katara begins in a whisper. The smeared ground trembles under Reki's feet. "Reki," asks Ward. "Everything okay buddy, you suddenly become very pale. Come on, we have to go in before we're soaked." The warm color disappears from Reki, unable to move nor respond, his face. Katara speaks "Nulla fugae gratia iam cecidisti" and continues to dig deeper into the dark magic. While she says; "Hoc in full quid fecisti Ego dont volo angeli credunt esse partem illius vesceretur", graceful black veins appear on her right hand. The thin lines wind their fingertips across her forearm as she continues with the forbidden spell; "Ab isto die in remanebit obumbratio. Ab alis de tenebris et revertetur." -The wind whispers in his ear again. "Reki." A cold bites his body as he stares into Katara's glassy eyes. He knows now what this is ... He knows why she is here ... He had gone too far, and now. Now he will pay for it. "Causa tua ego anodynon meus es tu" she speaks slowly while a glass glow appears on her sapphire blue eyes. A graceful black line appears across Katara's right eye socket as she speaks "Deorsum cecidit in laqueum diaboli spectaculum semper hospiti". "Reki" asks Ward again on the absent crusader. "Talem virum facili animo furandi non es servus usque" Katara whispers, unknowing of the third mark appearing on her body. A longer identical line adorns the first mark over her eye, this one running from her jaw to her forehead. The forbidden magic forever marks Katara as she digs deeper into power and summons creatures from the deep. Creatures whose names could not be remembered, sleeping monsters destined to never wake up. "Reki," asks Ward, as sweat begins to bead on his forehead. Reki shivers feverishly as cold sweat runs down his strong back. He leans forward and puts his hand on the wooden fence to support him, while his fellow knight takes his cup. "Reki" asks Ward uncertainly. Reki is having trouble with keeping his balance. When Reki starts to cough deeply, all the knights look at him with concern. "Reki drink" orders Marnix, a middle-aged Templar, placing the cup to his lips. Despite his dry throat, Reki is unable to drink the cool liquid. The precious beer runs down his rough chin. Hopelessly, Marnix takes the cup away from his mouth. "This is hopeless" Marnix sighs and turns his head to Ward. Ward frowns. "What the hell he has Ward" asks Marnix. Ward shakes his head. Get a medic, Ward shouts, annoyed by the bleak wind. In a hurry, the lady nods and disappears into the village, hopelessly looking for the doctor. The fear that Ward saw in her eyes was the same fear that is in his head ... Witchcraft ... If this is indeed a curse ... he is lost. Ward won't be able to help him if this is magic. Tormented by his fears, Ward rubs Reki's jaw. "Reki" he whispers with a sigh. "Come on man!" A duo of knights leaps up in surprise, supported by a startled shout when Reki sinks through his legs. They hurriedly support him, staring at Reki his bloodshot eyes. "Reki come on man" Ward whispers and grabs his jaws. "You can't give up now," Ward whispers as he turns the trembling crusader his face toward him. A thin line of blood runs over Reki's sharp cheekbones, coming from the corner of his eye. "Reki buddy," Ward whispers again. Trembling, he guides Reki to the ground where the latter remains on his hands and knees. Gently tapping his back, Ward sits down next to him. "Reki please," Ward whispers and swallows. I can't lose you. Please, whatever this is ... fight it. I know you can do it. You are strong. Please listen to me. Fight this curse. I do not want to lose you. Not like this. You are like a son to me Reki. Do you hear me?' Ward sighs. He is not sure if Reki hears him nor does he know if Reki has the strength to fight this madness. Thunderclouds circulate over Reki. The chilly wind is pulling more and more firmly on everyone's hair and clothes. The knights surrounding him swear loudly. Deep cracks appear in the loamy soil. "Reki" the young squire roars and grabs his thick collar with both hands. Reki suddenly stops coughing. But before Ward can breathe with relief, Reki starts vomiting. Ward is not sure what escapes from the knight's throat nor can he tell where it came from but one thing was for sure ... the black oil-like liquid being vomited out by his comrade is like a death sentence ... "Reki" whispers the kid and shakes with the knight. "Reki come on," he shouts and grabs the trembling knight by his collar. Puffing, he drags him to eye level. Blood seeps from Reki's nose as Ward crouches hopelessly next to the boy. "Where is that medic, get a medic" he shouts to a spectator. "I believe we need a priest" replies his partner. "Looks like he's possessed," whispers a knight. Ward swallows. He knows this wasn't the flu. It was more like witchcraft! But is it indeed devil possession or is it a curse? And if it is a curse? Where's the witch? How can they help him? Loose stones jump up and down rhythmically, dancing on the trembling ground. Helplessly, his brothers try to save him, drag him back to the light, or make him remember who he is, but Katara's strength has become too great. Inaudible to his companions, who are calling his name over and over she whispers the dark words making Reki his soul slowly slips away. Hungry for breath, Reki his eyes turn black.

Hopelessly, the squire grabs Reki his cotton coat of arms while Ward tries to give him more breathing room. "Come on" growls Ward and folds the cotton wall of his collar. "Reki" asks the kid uncertainly. Reki's pupils roll backward in their sockets. "Come on, don't give up. You are stronger than this! You've been through more! Not only that, but you are the knight who alone raided an entire tent camp, overran the pirates on his own, and intercepted the convoy with his own hands. This can't happen with you. Reki, hear my voice, return to the light! Come back, Reki, I need you, "the boy roars, pushing back his tears. He taps his jaw gently and holds his shoulder firmly with the other hand. "Come on, Reki, you saved me from smugglers. Don't leave me now, he roars." Ward grabs Reki's jaw and turns his head towards him. His other arm strongly supports Reki's upper body. "Come on Reki. Look me in the eye" he orders. "Come on, you can do it," he whispers noticing that Reki tries this. "Come on Reki, you're almost there" Ward whispers. Gently growling, the darkness of Reki conquers. His eyes roll back again. "Reki come on" growls Ward. Surprised, he looks at the floor. An abrupt heat appears under his shoe soles. "Lad" shouts Ward, looking at the black smoke rising from the craters. He abruptly releases Reki and grabs the boy. With a thump, Reki lands on the warm ground. Ward drags the protesting boy away from Reki. "No" the boy roars, "I have to save him!" The old Templar stares at the black fumes in shock. Shadows slowly move towards Reki's motionless body. Ward improves his grip on the child and turns his head away. Weakly, Reki clenches his fists and makes an attempt to lift his head, but his muscles fail him. No matter how hard the weakened warrior tries, he is no match for infernal shadows. Faintly a muffled scream sounds. A final bolt of lightning strikes through the gray sky, after which the dark shadows in Reki's body disappear. Again, the broken ground is silent. The dark shadows disappear as Katara says, "Tempus currit de est,". Sighing, Ward lets go of the boy. "Reki" he shouts and runs to the fallen knight. He screams again; "Reki" and shakes his shoulder, but it's useless. Sighing, Ward feels Reki's neck. He closes his eyes cursing. "He no longer has a heartbeat," he whispers as tears fill his eyes. "Why did you stop me" the squire shouts broken. "I don't want to lose you too", replies Ward and puts his hand on the boy who kneels hopelessly at Reki's side. "I'm sorry boy" whispers Ward and looks again at Reki. How can he lose his best friend like that? Reki was like a son to him and now ... now he's gone forever. "How could this happen?" Two knights mutter to each other. The elder shakes his head and looks at the lifeless Reki. "You know Reki, women left and right. It must have been the wrong one once." "Like the one over there," the squire hisses, pointing to two soldiers who have grabbed Katara. Katara, surprised by the soldiers, struggles in their tight grip.

"I know you," Ward says slowly as he stands up. He looks at the young witch with soldiers by her. "You're responsible for this," he growls. "Isn't it?" He continues and grabs Katara's jaws. Arrogantly, he turns her head towards Reki's lifeless body. He is still lying prone on the broken ground. Katara smiles meanly at the sight of the dead knight. "What happened to you," he asks softly, looking at her marks. "Where's your baby," whispers Ward. "He was like a brother to me, you witch," the squire roars and rushes towards Katara. The strong knights stop him. "Leave her child, she'll burn soon! Isn't it? Take her to the right place," Ward shouts. Soldiers relentlessly drag Katara into the dungeons.

"Make way for the headmaster," a nobleman roars and pushes away the curious crowd. A lavishly dressed man with an elegant curly mustache and pointed beard approaches the elven knights. "What's the matter here. I demand answers!" "My lord" begins the elder knight and continues; "a witch has robbed Reki of his life." "How is this possible! A knight and a witch? This must be some kind of joke." "My Lord, I can assure you that Reki was a nobleman, honorable and good, but like many of us, he too had his weaknesses. charms and good looks helped him with this. It's not the first time we've seen this woman with him. They have a child, "Ward whispers and continues; "even though I don't know what happened to it." The headmaster casts his gaze on the lifeless knight's body and nods in understanding. Hopelessly, the young squire tries to straighten Reki. Without a word, two knights help the young boy. They rest Reki's back against the boy's chest. In silence, the dark knight murmurs a prayer and closes Reki his eyes. The knights take another step back so that the kid can say goodbye. He needs the time. They all know how attached they were to each other. "I'm sorry Reki," the boy whispers. "I promise that I will personally ensure that all witches suffer the same fate." He rubs Reki's ring decorated with the symbol and let's go of his hand. "You saved me," he whispers and continues: "I'm sorry I couldn't do the same for you. You made me who I am. taught me what it means to be a knight and I'm sorry I failed now. "