A time soon came just before we reached the city, that all the ships suddenly halted in their movement.
I awoke as usual that day, but couldn’t feel the faint vibrations of the ship. When I exited to the garden above, I saw the aerial ships lined side by side, facing a black mass in the distance. The light of the pillars was erratic. And across all the structures, three orbs of light were seemingly being charged.
I saw Druzhat standing by the soldiers, just as resolute as them.
“What’s happening, Druzhat?” I said, as I ran to his side. “What’s that thing in the distance?”
He looked to me with dismay. “A great evil has set its eyes on us.”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
Suddenly, I was pushed to the ground. Druzhat covered me. A black mass of tendrils flew above me! It struck the ground some distance away, but it burst, sending fire, rock, and grass high.
“Call to the others!” said Druzhat. “Ignite the beast before us!”
The soldiers, by his order, held their hands to the other ships. They stood still in position. I saw the orbs above charged to such a degree that their light became as like fire. But just before it seemed they would issue a beam, a darkness covered us.
I heard wails and screams. The darkness lifted. I rose to see the soldiers’ bodies carved. They looked as if they had been dug through with great spoons. Blood spilled from their openings. Whatever was left of their innards spilled to the surface as the bodies collapsed. The smell of their flesh and the waste released from the bowels made me void myself.
My vomit ran hot through my throat, and I seemed ready to collapse under the duress of witnessing death. Before I could fall, Druzhat held to me.
“Fall not, prince! The demon will give us no chance to escape.”
I was still in a daze. “A demon?”
“Yes, and quite a terrible one in fact,” said the minister, gulping. “How it made past the border, I know not, but what is certain is that we may perish if we do not fight with complete focus! Be not distracted by the terrible sights before you. I hoped you would not witness death so soon, but alas! the time has come that you grow to be the warrior that was meant for you!”
I wiped the saliva and froth my mouth. Druzhat kept me on my feet, as I looked to the malleable black substance that replicated in sight. From its confines emerged grotesque creatures of the night, their forms terrible to behold: gnarled skin of various dark shades, teeth sharper than a tiger’s and warped like the tusks of an elephant, their bodies deformed to such a degree that it was a wonder that they could even stand.
These creatures that seemed mindless covered us from all sides. Soldiers poured onto the open spaces of the ship, and the cries of the warriors effaced the Earth. The demons stood still a moment, waiting for a reaction. The soldiers, though shaken, held resolute, choosing not to lay first strike. Then, from the mass of the horde shot great tendrils that cleaved into the ranks of the soldiers!
Holler and madness through the ranks. They charged toward their adversaries, and their voices were silenced by the might of the dark elements.
The demons fought hard against the soldiers, and it seemed the forces were equally matched.
The wails of the demons pierced my ears. The powers of the soldiers served to hold them back just enough. Yet the underhanded tactics of these beings weren’t to be underestimated. Their bodies would become like thorns assailing all who came near. Their blood like acid, melting the armor of our soldiers. And their teeth cutting through the steel and stone of our swords.
They feasted on the corpses of the soldiers and brought dismay to the ranks.
“Fight!” called Druzhat. “Give not to cowardice, lest we all fall to the might of our forsaken kin! Seliva Seliho!”
Druzhat bore his blade and moved into the fray and slaughtered many a demon in his wake. His swings came from all sides, and the gentle touch of the elements sent the horde into flight. I looked to the other ships to see the tide of battle being turned in our favor.
But I couldn’t express joy, for demons surrounded me on all sides. I held my sword, ready for battle! They raced to me, flailing their sharp legs and arms. I evaded the strikes and held my sword ahigh to run along the length of their flesh.
I peeled their skin, their blood flowing, melting the grass below. I spun and released a fury of fire. The creatures were alighted and issued shrieks shrill to my ears. Their movements didn’t halt. They came back faster and deadlier. Death was their master, and it seemed as if they came as his agents.
For in my view, I could see the lord of death closing to my position. He appeared out of the air, his form as before, but now seeming human. He walked slowly, his face filled with neither happiness nor sadness. Darkness emanated from him, and I became afraid of his sight.
“Why do you come, O Lord of Kharyah?” I said, appealing to his epithet of justice. “Do these demons serve you? Why have you come for me now?”
He remained silent. One thing I knew to be certain was that these demons didn’t see him, nor did the other soldiers.
My strikes hadn’t ceased, and I pushed myself further back to evade the gaze of death. The demons followed me, but were quickly dispensed by the throng of the soldiers.
When all seemed ready to be done, the demons, instead of fleeing, went to the edge of the ships and stood resolute, like soldiers. Both those maimed and unmarred stood with attention, directed to some other. Descending onto our ship were two beings, a man and woman alike to us. Their forms human, wearing the clothes and armor of the celestials.
From their persons were donned armor of stone that was like metal. From atop their vests flowed the white robes that suspended itself as if it were in water. Their fhorlia was also white, but it remained still in the air, unaffected by the movements of the wind.
Their faces were dark, and their hair was light. They seemed as like the Autirsah1A race of beings who are known for their circling horns and six ears, three on either side., but they had only a single pair of ears that blossomed from their sides; long but round, like a lotus petal. No horns jutted from their head and it was clear of obstruction and blemish.
They landed with grace and looked to each one of us. Then their sights landed to me, and they held their arms slowly. Their fingers lazily pointed to me.
