1 Every Story Has an Ending

The Keep of the Eldenvarden had recently come under siege and had fallen under the opposition of the Cannimites. All forty thousand souls present within the former lofty halls had been brutally slaughtered and wet Cannimite blades with their blood. Throughout the lands of Phiadan the burning bastion of humanity was laid waste to as the cries of the slain yelled out. The echoes of blades ringing filled the ears of the warriors desperately struggling to maintain their sweet grasp onto life to no avail. The blades rose and fell, sweeping the Keep like the endless tide. Mystical spells were launched as various effects came into existence by the beckoning of magic itself, infernos sprouted into great conflagrations, great monsoons whirled into battle, earthen walls raised to shield and protect, beams of light descending to smite the enemy, darkness approaching to snuff out the light, the various spells cast were beyond the comprehension of the feeble mortal mind.

Within all of this chaos a small group emerged from battle, composed of civilians and soldiers, two young recruits leading the charge.

"Aadam! You must not fall today! Let me stave off the enemy!" yelled Edward anxiously.

"We are sworn brothers are we not Edward? We swore the oath to protect in the academy. You know that I'm injured, I won't last long. Let me hold them off," replied Aadam.

"Stop this foolishness!" cried Edward, "We will both see the sun again my friend."

"If only that was possible, do you think that if we had a chance to survive that I would hesitate to follow you? For I would not. You know just as well as I that the Mites beat on our doors. Not a single person among us would survive. Let me buy time for your escape, if need be I shall pay the price with blood."

"Do you need me to pull rank on you to dissuade you from this path of folly? Come, we shall all escape together. We shall start anew in a far off land."

"Your visions of idealism cloud your view on reality my friend, you know that we have barely a moment to escape. Go! Make sure my sacrifice is not in vain."

He sighed, "Tales of your glory shall ring in the hearts of humanity. I will ensure your sacrifice is not in vain my friend."

"That's all I needed to know my friend. My thanks, may the heavens look upon this moment."

"Your glory shall astound the ears of the heavens themselves, comrade."

Edward slowly walked away with the rest of the survivors following him, placing his trust in him to protect them. Only Aadam was left, placing his body between the earthen walls as mages, warriors, citizens, sweep past him rushing towards the tunnels. He slowly unsheathed his blade, the singing of the blade was comforting to his ears. He raised his shield, warily watching the horizons for the Cannimites. The swarm of insectoid-like creatures rushed across the cobbled path screaming battle-cries in their endless thirst for blood. Readying his body, he braced his shield forward to meet the swarm.

"Кал есен." muttered Aadam, the swarm's movements were instantly hindered as they were dragged down by the clutches of the earth beneath them.

Rushing forward his blade cleaved through the abdomen of the first roach-like Cannimite. Following that, a mantis-like Mite swept at his head using its bladed forelimbs.

"Back off you bastards!" yelled Aadam, deflecting the limb he lunged forward slicing of the leg of the Mite. Leaping back, he yelled "пекол," a massive fireball erupted from his fingertips setting the insectoids on fire. Rushing back into battle, his blade locked with another Yenian. It's poisonous fangs reaching out towards Aadam's jugular. Dashing forward Aadam's blade flashed seeking out it's hairy underside. It plunged forward as it's green blood spurted from the wound in bursts staining his chrome armor. Another limb reached out slicing apart his cape into shreds as Aadam narrowly avoided another swipe towards his back. Gathering his mana, he scattered various runes upon the ground causing an explosion of magical energy engulfing the crowd of Mites.

The mites exploded and a bloodied mist started to settle within the air, a ferocious roar shook the air... A dark shadow suddenly loomed overhead. Quickly glancing overhead, the quadrupedal body of Brelimos came swooping down from the skies. With its claws outstretched it quickly swiped at Aadam's shield.

Deflecting the blow, Aadam raised his blade in preparation to thrust but, then a glob of acid rapidly filled his vision. Inwardly cursing within his mind he quickly leaped back to avoid the acid. The acid was eating out the flesh of the Brelimos, injuring of one it's wings, impeding its movement. Snarling, the Brelimos grabbed the Mite that had shot it and teared it's spine from it's body. The Mite's limp body was dropped to floor and kicked aside. Slowly backing away, Aadam raised his shield in preparation to fend of the Brelimos.

In a burst of speed the Brelimos charged forward, despite it's injured wing, and slammed Aadam against the wall of the alley. Picking himself up again, Aadam once again swept his blade, lodging it inside the chest of the Brelimos causing a roar of pain to erupt. Darting away, he swiftly avoided the swipe of the Brelimos; however, a second swipe caught him off guard beating him back several paces. Clutching the bleeding gash on his abdomen he charged forwards once again rapidly thrusting the blade within in the skull of the insectoid.

As the insectoid struggled in its death throes it reached out wards hooking its claws into Aadam's wounds and started pulling his body apart.

"Goddamn it, why can't you just die already you insect bastard"?

Falling backwards, Aadam thrust his sword even further, finally silencing the Brelimos once and for all. As he fell backwards, Aadam felt the feeling of consciousness slowly leave his body as he drifted away...