Chapter 12: Traitor

The ground rose up beneath Wolf’s feet, the earth itself seemed to rise against him as it attempted to form a cage around him. Wolf used his own power to freeze the ground he was on, he leapt off the platform, drawing his sword he clashed with a kutta soldier.

“Guessing you were the one who attacked us, tell me where did you send my brother?”

The soldier tried to push Wolf back, refusing to answer him. Wolf didn’t want to waste any time with him, he disarmed the soldier by slicing both of his arms off. Blood sprayed everywhere, the soldier screamed in agony as he fell onto the ground.

“damn you savages, how dare you invade our home, threaten our people. Our god will unleash his wrath on your kind for this, all you damn bhediya!!”

Wolf ignored the ranting soldier leaving him to slowly die. He didn’t get too far before he heard the sound of flesh being pierce, the soldier made a gagging noise before falling silent.

Wolf turned around to see Li chi, her blade was through the soldier open mouth. She moved forward, forcing her sword through his skull as she made her way towards Wolf.

“hello traitor... don’t you have a job to do?”

Blunt and straightforward as ever. Wolf could hear the battle growing throughout the city, he needed to hurry if he was going to find Monkey before things escalated. He turned around planning to leave, but Li chi moved in front of him, blocking his path.

“the castle is that way,”

she raised her right arm, her sword extending towards the tallest building standing in the center of the city.

“or do you plan on not fulfilling your role again?”

Wolf put on his biggest smile, “don't be ridiculous, of course I’m going to finish the job. But I need to find my brother.”

Her blade was in Wolf face now. “The monkey isn't important, your mission is. Or do you plan on betraying us again?”

Wolf smile never wavered. “who knows, maybe, Since you’re deciding to block my path I may just betray you now.”

Two Ice spikes rose out of the ground, curving around Li chi seeking to impale Wolf but two ice walls rose up defending him. He ducked as she thrust her arm forward, she spun around bringing her second sword upward it collided with Wolf sheath that he used to defend himself cutting through it.

Wolf let out a whistle,

“scary, you’re a general for a reason huh?”

Li chi didn’t take the bait, she took a step back allowing Wolf to get up. “mission first”

Wolf sigh, he knew he couldn’t beat Li chi in a fight. He had no choice but to comply.

“fine. You win.”

He made his way towards the castle, Li chi followed him.

“really? I already said I was going. Don’t you have some soldiers to kill or something?”

She kept her eyes on him.

“making sure you don’t die is my mission”

Wolf clicked his tongue showing clear disdain. Of course, a bodyguard and a babysitter. His mother wasn’t taking any chances this time and why would she?

“sorry Monkey, you’re on your own... just survive.”

Wolf and Li chi made their way towards Akita Castle.

~

Shards of ice rain down from the sky, Zayav cut down each one that attacked him. After the barrage ended, he rushed down Carmilla their blade clashed. Carmilla tried to put some distance between them but Zayav created a wall of Ice stopping her forcing her closer her. She had to roll out the way as Zayav next strike destroyed the wall he just created.

Carmilla launched herself forward seizing the opening, or so she thought, with his other hand Zayav created a claw made of in a attempt to trap her but she sliced through his magic, once again their blades collided.

“so, you wanted to lure me out so you can invade the castle. Carmilla, did you really think I would allow you to kill my lord?”

Zayav assaulted Carmilla with an endless stream of strikes forcing her back, Carmilla defended but some of his attacks made it through her defense, slicing arms, sides and legs. It took everything she had to make sure he didn’t hit anything vital. She needed to stay in this fight.

Carmilla rose her left hand, catching Zayav blade. This action caught him off guard as she took the opportunity to thrust her blade through his stomach.

Coughing up blood he saw that her hand was gone, replacing it was a smooth, crystallized hand of ice.

“I never thought you would take such an injury from anyone Carmilla. I honestly thought this was your real hand the way you moved it.”

She smiled,

“just a small price I paid when your lord sent his assassins to kill off our people, what one hand compared to the vision I’ll achieve? it took a few months, but I eventually became able to move it as if it was an actually limb.”

Spiral of ice formed around them, slowly encasing them

“I wanted to capture you alive Carmilla, still do. But I can’t allow my lord to die and I’ve wasted too much time here.”

He pulled the blade out of him, walking out of the encasing ice before it fully closed. Carmilla was confused, she moved to continue their fight but couldn’t. She soon realized her lower half was frozen by the ice.

“when did yo-”

She looked up to see him smiling on the other side of the ice.

“It was fun being able to cross blades with you again. Like old times.”

Zayav made his way towards the castle, cutting down any bhediya that got in his. Showing no signs of slowing down from the wound he received.

Carmilla was able to free herself from the ice that froze her legs. The prison that surrounded her however she knew would take some time.

“not just in swordsmanship but also in magic, really. I just can't compete”

She got to work on destroying her prison.

“If only Wolf had completed his mission, then... it wouldn’t of came to this.”

~

Wolf and Li chi managed to make their way to the castle. Bodies of both bhediya and kutta piled on the steps. As Wolf and Li chi ascended, Wolf couldn’t help but reminisce on how this place looked before. Two giant dog statues greeted them as they approach the doors, opposite of each other they were made of pure white marbles now coated in blood, the doors were already busted open. They proceeded with caution, even with battle outside the inner courtyard was quiet. The beautiful blue Iris flowers that grace the gardens were destroyed.

The castle stood 6 stories tall, blue and gold line the exterior with each layer of the roof curved over the other.

“it was such a peaceful place.” Wolf said as he looked around.

“Yes, it was.”

Wolf and Li chi looked up onto the roof, spotting a lone figure.

“Amyah” As soon as Wolf spoke his old comrade name Amyah leapt off the building

“Guess there no room to talk huh?” Wolf drew his sword

Amyah rush forward charging at Wolf.

“I got nothing to say to you!!”

Li chi got in-between Wolf and Amyah.

“this doesn’t concern you!!”

Amyah yelled, silk threads appeared around Li chi swords, entangling them and pulling her through the air. On the other end she saw more kutta that were hidden within the garden.

“so, this is how you prevented us from entering, hiding in the shadows”

Li chi cut through the threads, landing on the walls that surround the castle she dived towards the kutta.

Wolf fought against Amyah; his old comrade, he improved over the last few years. Wolf noticed each of his strikes were aimed at his vitals, Wolf had to be careful not to be cut either. He was sure the blade was coated in poison.

“Well must say, you’ve gotten so much better Amyah”

Amyah threw daggers at Wolf who deflected each one.

“and you changed as well, you’ve become ridiculous”

Wolf laugh,

“yeah, I suppose I’m not the person I once was, but if I’m being honest, being stabbed in the back by a comrade would change a few things”

Amyah readied himself.

“Thought you were completely frozen? Not that it matters. Orders from our lord was to kill every bhediya”

Wolf smile never wavered,

“and I’m the traitor?”

Amyah whole body radiated with lightning.

Wolf let out a low whistle,

“Aiden would be so proud.”

Amyah ran straight at Wolf,

“don't you dare speak his name in front of me ever again!!”

One moment he was in front of Wolf then in a flash, as the sound of lightning can be heard, he was behind him.

Wolf expected the attack, blocking the blade with his sword.

“come on now, I trained with Aiden. And he was much faster”

Amyah kept attacking,

“you know, I don’t understand why I was betrayed and yet you seem angrier about it than me”

Wolf said as he and Amyah traded blows.

“yeah... I really don’t like this new attitude of yours.” Amyah said,

“Aiden always had a soft spot for you.”

Amyah thrown more daggers at Wolf, these however were connected by a string of lightning magic that were attached to his left fingers. Wolf deflected them but the moment he did Amyah simply flex his fingers, bringing the daggers back once again striking Wolf.

“Alright, not bad... but that must take intense concertation.”

Wolf evaded the next strike, running directly at Amyah. Amyah attempted to redirect the daggers but Wolf was able to close the distance forcing Amyah to defend himself.

“you’re right... it does take great focus to control them while in the middle of a fight” Amyah said,

At those words Wolf pushed Amyah aside as he blocked more incoming attacks from the daggers.

“that why for the last few years I’ve been practicing wielding both!!”

Amyah assaulted Wolf from the front while the daggers attacked relentlessly from different sides.

“what's wrong? Not so smug, now are you?”

But Wolf grin never faded during their fight, Amyah became more aggressive. Even with this advantage Wolf was able to block every attack, Amyah aimed his next strike at Wolf’s head but he ducked down evading the attack. Using his magic Wolf slid backwards rising up above Amyah who once again directed his daggers at Wolf but at the last second, Wolf launch himself at Amyah, Freezing the daggers and Lightning magic. Before Amyah could cut off the connection, Wolf’s Ice caught his hand freezing him in place. Unable to move Amyah couldn’t do anything but watch as Wolf came down, slicing open his chest. His blood sprayed out of him, drenching Wolf.

Amyah Breath heavily as his life faded.

“No ma-matter how much... I trained... you always stood there... blocking my path. And I... hated you for it”

Amyah took his last breath, staring up at the sky.

~

Wolf looked around the courtyard. Letting out a small sigh as he sheathed his sword, he knelt down making snowball and throwing it into a garden of flowers.

“come on out Li chi” Wolf said.

The flowers parted as Li chi appeared. A snowball on her head, an annoyed look on her face.

“did you forget that I actually trained in stealth?” Wolf asked.

She wiped the snow off her head. As she stared at Amyah lifeless body.

“are you sad?” she asked,

But Wolf just shook his head. “me and Amyah... were never that close”

“Li chi, Wolf... it's been awhile” a voice said from the gates, Wolf and Li chi looked to see who it was that spoke.

Zayav stood at the entrance, his hand over his side, covering a wound.

“this is bad, Carmilla was supposed to keep him busy.” Wolf said nervously,

Li chi stepped in front, placing herself in-between Wolf and Zayav.

“finish your mission traitor.”

Wolf got ready to draw his sword.

“dont thi-”

But Li chi cut him off thrusting her blade in his face.

“the mission comes first.”

The ground roared as an avalanche of Ice burst open the earth in their direction. Water coated Li Chi swords as she whipped it around herself and Wolf, slicing the oncoming Ice assault.

Zayav appeared through the ice, his and Li Chi swords collided.

“Go! Now!!” Li chi yelled,

From the demonstration he just saw Wolf knew that him and Li chi were no match, she was right. The mission had to come first, they were out of time. He ran towards the castle entrance, only to have a wall of Ice appear, blocking his path.

Wolf took a deep breath, quickly drawing his sword he attempted to cut down the Ice wall, but failed. It barely cut through.

“Wolf behind you!!”

He turned around at the sound of Li chi voice, blocking an attack from Zayav.

“Wolf, I’m sorry it came down to this.”

Wolf, felt a pang of guilt. Staring at Zayav he could tell the warrior was truly sad at the current situation.

“funny how it came down to a civil war huh Zayav?” Wolf asked.

But Zayav still carried a sad expression.

“out of the way!!”

Li Chi leapt back into the fight separating the two of them. She created a water spiral and launch it at the Castle doors bursting through the ice wall.

“Hurry Wolf!!”

She screamed, desperation in her voice as she returned attention back onto Zayav. Wolf didn’t waste no more time as he ran into the castle to finally kill Lord Ti shin.

~

Wolf ran down the halls, there were still a few guards left to protect Lord Ti shin but Wolf was able to easily cut them down. He neared the throne room,

“I knew this day would come, t-there all were against me... they were against me all along, I s-s-should've wiped out their kind long ago. Where is our god? How could he allow this to happen. H-Haven't I done everything he wanted? Those cursed bhedyia , this is all because of C-Carmilla"

the walls echoed the words of a man scared of the world, he continued to ramble as Wolf entered the throne room.

“Lord Ti shin” Wolf announced himself.

It was just Lord Ti shin and two guards, the guards attacked Wolf for their king but Wolf froze them both, shattering them. Lord Ti shin ran behind his throne, frighten.

“Noooooo! I’ve done everything my god wanted. I did everything he wanted!!! Why is this happening? Why are you against me?”

Wolf couldn’t help but wonder if Lord Ti shin was serious? It was his oppression of the bhedyia that lead to this moment. He felt nothing but pity for kutta lord now.

“I’ll make it quick” Wolf said as he reached for his sword.

“draw your blade, and you will die” A voice said behind him,

Wolf body froze completely, how? Behind him, Zayav stood at the doorway.

Lord Ti shin peeked out from behind the throne,

“Zayav? Zayav!! You came!!” His lord felt relieve, tears of joy running down his face.

“you’re the only one I can trust among these savages” he said.

“My lord, I swore to protect you and I tend to keep my oath to for as long as I draw breath.”

Zayav tighten the grip on his sword as he stared at Wolf who slowly turn around,

“Wolf, just give up. Please don’t make me kill you” Zayav seemed to be begging for Wolf to surrender now.

But Wolf just shook his head, “Zayav, when we first met... I was tasked with assassinating Lord Ti shin. But, meeting you. I’ve changed my mind, I decided to put my faith in your words and hope that one day our Lord would see the bhedyia as allies, as people who loved this country as much as the kutta... I’ve... betrayed my kind for that vision. I’ve... betrayed my mother. I became known as a traitor; more lives were lost because I didn’t finish my mission.”

Wolf got into a quick draw stance.

“and what did my betrayal get me? I too, ended up being betrayed by Lord Ti shin... he declared the eradication of the bhedyia, including the assassins that was sworn to serve him. That feeling... that loss of trust, that must be how my people felt when I turned my back on them.”

Zayav stared at Wolf, noting the determination in his eyes.

“I see, nothing I can say now would change your mind. In truth, my heart aches too for the mistreatment of my people” Zayav said

Lord Ti shin face sowed with fear, “Z-Zayav?”

Zayav gave Ti shin a gentle smile, “but, seeing the pain my lord has endured. I swore to always stay by his side. I will not let you kill him; I will not let Carmilla kill him.”

They stood there, in silence for a moment. Then, they lunge for each other. They swords sung as steel clashed against steel, Wolf summoned shards of Ice, launching them at Zayav who cut down each one. Zayav created a pillar of Ice under Wolf sending him to collide into the roof of the castle, but Wolf jumped off, meeting Zayav as their blades once again clashed. Zayav Grabbed Wolf, slamming him into the ground he then repeatedly punches Wolf into the ground.

“it's over Wolf, surrender” Zayav stood up, pointing his sword at him.

Wolf coughed up blood, breathing heavily.

“just...end it.” Wolf Told Zayav.

Zayav hovered the sword above Wolf, before pulling it back preparing to strike.

“I’m sorry, it came down to this”

Zayav said as he brought his blade down.

“ZAYAV!!!”

Zayav blade stopped short of the killing blow as he heard Carmilla’s voice, she was running towards them as if her own life depended on it.

“Zayav!!! Don’t you dare kill our child!!” she screamed at him.

Zayav and Wolf eyes both widen in shocked as they stared at each other.

The Roof of the building exploded; flames rained down upon them. Zayav Acted quickly, creating a barrier of ice protecting him and Wolf.

Time seemed to slow down; Wolf saw Carmilla running towards Zayav while he was busy protecting them both. Her sword raised, she aimed it straight at Zayav heart while his back was turned. Was what she said true? Was this man his father? He had to know.

“Mother don’t!!” he screamed,

but it was too late, Wolf could do nothing but watch as Carmilla sword pierced Zayav body.