Bloodlines of Archaea I. Afira
A Fight for the Right to Leave

Time seemed to slow with each slash of my blade which now dripped with crimson blood. The slight burn of each dancing flame which encapsulated my entire body and fueled each attack as I fended off the small army of creatures, fighting for a way off the island. I ignored the pain which covered much of my flame-covered body. My muscles ached as I had fought off so many creatures, their bodies lying stiff and lifeless at the side, nothing more than a nuisance to avoid falling on. I had managed to whittle the large crowd of creatures down to just one more monstrous troll and two more shadows which still dodged my every flame. Exhausted, I could barely manage to stand, but used every ounce of my strength to continue the fight, slashing at falling trolls and swooping shadows, wondering when Akuma would awaken from his forceful slumber, never wishing more to have him by my side to tell me everything would be alright. I had never needed to hear those few seemingly untruthful words than that moment in time when lifeless bodies lied around me, where the once clear and peaceful night sky was filled with ash and crimson blood.

I rolled to the side, dodging a swing of a large club from one of the trolls, who was breathing heavily and bleeding viciously, bright red dripping from every inch of his flesh. I closed my eyes tightly and stuck my sword out, attempting to scare the creature for a moment. Instead, the thing let out an ear-splitting cry. I looked down, terrified, only to see the creature on its knees, my sword impaling its fat stomach, blood gushing from the sides of my blade. I hesitated for a moment, unable to move or even to scream, but then slowly pulled the sword out from inside the single-eyed troll. The moment the tip of the long blade was removed from inside the creature, it fell down, lifeless and cold like the rest. I simply held my sword for a moment, staring down at the once clear and polished, but now blood-stained blade. At this, the flames which engulfed me erupted in a large explosion, murdering the last two shadows before extinguishing themselves.

I fell to the ground, letting out a cry of relief. My blade dropped with me, my cloak flying off the top of my head. I just lied there for a while, trying not to move or to think, as it seemed even the slightest movement filled my entire body with instant striking pain. Blood poured from my wounds and drenched my clothing. Some even covered my lush black hair in the red liquid, turning it a deep red. I thought of the way my life used to be when Grandma Lilly would obsess over the state of my hair, combing and brushing the long forest until every stray hair was put back into place. I wondered what she would think of it now, although still mostly controlled, blood and sand plagued the otherwise perfectly shiny surface of my obsidian-black mane.

Eventually, I was able to move without causing an immediate stabbing pain deep in the center of my bones. I clawed at the sand, holding my side and slowly dragging myself over to where I had left Akuma behind two large rocks. I had never been more happy to see his peacefully resting face, quietly as if nothing had happened. I shook his shoulders carefully, “Akuma,” I said gruffly. “Akuma, wake up,” I gently picked his hand up and pulled, my own arms moving slowly and painfully to do so. He moaned mourningly and sat up very slowly. “Yes!” I yelled, happy to see his face alive and well. He looked around for a moment until resting his eyes on my own. “What happened to you?” He asked, staring at the blood which dripped from my side.

I looked down at my hand which was now covered in my own deep red ichor. I flinched, unsure of what to say, I opened and closed my mouth several times, until finally, I ended by saying, “It’s fine. I’m just glad you’re okay so we can leave.” I said, looking into his eyes and smiling warmly.

He looked down at the ground, a look of disappointment came across his face. “I’m sorry,” he said, “It was too much, I guess. I can only go for so long.”

“It’s okay. You did great and you got us out of there. All I had to do was just bring us a little farther along,” I paused. “And you know, fight off an entire army of both trolls and shadow creatures. No biggie.” I said, teasingly.

He winced. “Seriously?” He asked, “am I failing at protecting you or what?”

I chuckled. “I don’t know. But what I do know, I need some medical attention and like eighteen hours of sleep,” I said, smiling weakly as I tried to get up on my feet. A surging pain echoed through my body. I gasped and fell to the ground with a grunt. I ignored this and tried again, fighting the urge to scream in pain. Once more, I fell to the ground, no longer able to move. I looked over at Akuma who was chuckling and rising to his feet.

“Looks like you don’t really have control over when that happens,” he said, taking me by the shoulders and dragging m across the beach. I rolled my eyes, but far too tired to protest, I allowed my body to be carried across the beach to our small boat.

“Wait!” I yelled, pain surging through my body as I did.

“What?” Akuma asked, clearly distraught at my indignant yelling.

“We forgot my sword,” I said looking up and watching him roll his eyes, continuing to drag my legs across the sand.

“How rude. You know I killed an entire army with that thing,” I said, looking back longingly at the blood-stained blade.

“Yeah, but you’re heavy and I’m tired and the boat is on the other side of the island, and I just don’t feel like going all the way back for a bloody sword,” he said, barely acknowledging what I had said.

I groaned, “fine. But next time I need a sword, I might have to use you.”

He chuckled, “I’m too heavy,” he said indignantly after a moment of silence.