14 Sacrifices

[...]

Someone or something is coming. It's not even in sight yet, but I can feel it's massive bloodlust. Whatever it may be, it's not even trying to conceal its presence.

Sylvia rushed towards me, and picked me up. She put me down between some large rocks. The sheer panic and desperate clinging to life was noticeable on her face. I froze, she seemed to understand the gravity of the situation we're in and I'm handing her the reigns. She looked at me and smiled.

"Maybe, maybe this will be worth it..."

She then took a step back. A bright light now took her place, and I noticed the light slowly taking shape. The light grew really large and wings extended from within that light. What I saw next, caught me off guard.

Sylvia transformed into a dragon. She didn't look like the dragon's back in my old world. Kamish was an insanely large dragon to be fair. But she shared the same elegance as dragons. Her white skin was beautifully detailed with golden lines crossing over her skin like veins.

"W-what..." before I could even finish, Sylvia shut me up.

She ripped a feather from her wings and simultaneously pulled out a black orb.

No, the more I look at it...it was an egg.

She looked at me, and then at the black egg. Her face, even in this shape, held a deep sadness and desperation. It looked like she had to face an enormously difficult decision.

Suddenly, she put the egg back under her wings and held the feather over me.

She chanted something I couldn't understand.

"Stay still. You'll be safe. Thank you...for everything. My sweet child."

The only reason I didn't break down at that moment, was because I was still completely lost as to what was going on. I felt weird, as if I was bound to the floor, I couldn't even make a move.

The presence became stronger and I watched as Sylvia stood in the middle of the room. She looked like she was in pain.

Suddenly, the steps became a lot louder. It's here.

From the shadows, a creature made it's way towards the crystal-lit oasis hidden deep in the cave. Sylvia faced it.

The creature looked exactly like Sylvia did, before she turned into a dragon. A cheeky grin appeared on the beast's face.

"It seems like I interrupted something." The voice was grainy and deep. Every word was emitted with force behind it. Luckily, that voice wasn't directed at me right now. I don't know if I could withstand it right now.

... Sylvia just stared at it as it steadily approached her.

"Well it seems you aren't in the mood for a chat right now. Understandable, since it seems you finally realise how truly desperate your attempt to oppose us was."

Sylvia lowered her head. She knew her fate was sealed.

The beast launched itself at Sylvia, but it didn't strike her. It jumped back after it seemed to touch her. I didn't really see it, as the speed was still too much for my senses to fully keep up.

The figure, now standing ten feet away from Sylvia, held up the black egg, that Sylvia took out earlier.

Sylvia's head suddenly raised. She looked angry.

"YOU CAN'T HAVE HER. I WILL NEVER LET YOU DO SOMETHING TO HER."

Who was Sylvia talking about? Was it the egg?

Before I could finish my thoughts, Sylvia in her dragon form stood next to the beast. Did she teleport? What happened?

And then I saw it.

Blood. Blood covered Sylvia's entire chest. In her chest, was the arm of the beast. It pierced through her. But what happened? Wasn't Sylvia the one that made the move.

Suddenly Sylvia's gaze was directed towards me. A small smile formed on her face, as she seemed to give up on struggling. A small smile paired with eyes, that carried hope.

It then doomed on me. Sylvia, she made her move, but it wasn't meant for the beast. She had destroyed the egg, that was previously in the beast's hands. Why had she destroyed it, when it seemed to be precious to her?

The beast looked shocked. Terrified even.

"WHY?! Why did you do that?!" It retracted its claws from Sylvia's chest, and right then, her body collapsed on the ground. I could feel it... she was gone.

I looked at the events unfolding before my very eyes. What...what just happened here?

Why? Why did she smile like that? Why did she save me? What's with the egg?

I couldn't control the thoughts that rushed in. I didn't even look at the beast that now towered over Sylvia's body.

I was in a state of disbelief. Paralysed. Unable to even lift a finger. Yet alone shed a tear.

...

Before I even noticed, the beast had already disappeared.

The cave was now filled with a heavy silence.

I took small steps towards Sylvia. My entire body felt numb. It was as if I automatically moved towards her. As if I was a puppet and could only spectate.

I felt powerless. As powerless as I felt, when my mother and sister were killed. As powerless, when I fell down from the cliff, after the ambush.

My knees felt heavy as I stood next to Sylvia's corpse. I simply collapsed. My body now laying on hers, I cried as I hugged the gentle soul that looked after me for the last month. A friend that I grew to like. A friend that I wanted to spend more time with. A friend that sacrificed herself, so that I could live.

Tears streamed down my face. I couldn't hold anything back.

"WHY?! JUST WHY?! ..."

"WHY DOES EVERYONE AROUND ME HAVE TO DIE?"

I screamed in pain and continued to cry, without and end in sight.

I was so caught up in emotions, that I didn't realise, that I was unconsciously absorbing the remainder of Sylvia's mana.

When I finally came to my senses and realised what was going on, it was already too late.

My black heart suddenly started to send out strong pulses.

"What's going on?" I uttered with a shaky voice.