User blog:Pollux83/Beyond Light and Darkness, Chapter 5

Chapter Overview

Warning, this chapter contains violence against monsters.

5 Presage



Like every morning I woke up with a smile on my face, knowing that Lara was lying next to me. She reminded me every morning for what I was fighting for.

As promised, we had married after her passing certification as blacksmith. So nervous I had never been. As my best man Kai had one's hands full to calm me down. But all the excitement was gone the moment which Lara entered the hall. In her white dress she looked like an angel. She walked gracefully to the altar. Her eyes were full of happiness and my too. On this day all of our friends came to celebrate our wedding. They were all there, Kai, our parents and relatives, childhood friends and of course my comrades from the barracks. All they had come to celebrate this day. We looked deep into the eyes of the other, when we gave ourselves the word of consent. The crowd cheered. We had made it, we were finally together. United for the rest of our lives. At this moment, we could not be happier. We thought it would remain forever, but fade had a different plan.



We had bought a home in the middle of the city. It was not large, but offered enough space. And not just for the two of us, but also for the child that we expected. With the money that we earned, we were able to live well and the small salary increase which I could bargain for in the barracks (I'm sure commander Radik has helped, but he would never admit it) has not hurt either. Our lives were filled with joy and we happy expected the future.





I was at breakfast, there was a rushed knock at the door. I went to the door and opened it.

"Sergeant Mareus."

"Yes, what' wrong?"

"An emergency. You must come to the barracks immediately."



Such an urgent emergency. Since there were not many options and each was worse than the other. I took my things immediately and said goodbye to Lara:

"What's going on?"

"I don't know, but I have to go immediately."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"Take care of yourself. Do you understand? I do not want you to put yourself in unnecessary danger. A child needs his father."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"My job isn't so dangerous. Don't worry too much."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"But I have a bad feeling about this. Promise me to take care of yourself."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"That's what I'm doing. Get wounded hurt way too much."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"That's not funny."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"I'll be all right." I stroked her hair gently.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"Simply watch out. And now you should better go before you come too late."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"It'll be all right." I gave her a goodbye kiss and went as quickly as possible to the barracks.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">In the barracks there was hectic. From commander Radik, I heard that a pack of werewolves was spotted at the border. It was unclear whether there were first victims. We should hurry as fast as possible in the region and investigate the situation. There was need to hurry.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Werewolves. The last case of werewolves was more than 5 years ago. But not only that. In the last 4 months there were an unusual number of incidents with Mamono. Most of them harmless, but something was wrong. The situation was far from reassuring.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">All preparations were made and the horses were saddled. If all went well, we would reach the border this evening. It was to hope that nothing had happened. Because the message has been sent 2 days ago.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">With 20 men we went galloping towards the border.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">When we arrived, it was already too late. The werewolves had attacked the village and kidnapped 2 men. But this was not the worst. A woman was bitten. They had chained her for safety. The villagers were not sure how to deal with her. Commander Radik let himself lead to her. I followed him, knowing what would happen now.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">The woman sat chained in a prison cell. She must have been my age. Commander Radik went into and examined her. You could already see the first changes. She started to turn into a werewolf. In her eyes, you could see her fear.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"What, what are you doing? What will happen to me?"

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">You could only feel sorry for her.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Radik took his sword slowly out of the scabbard.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">"Calm down. It'll be over soon."

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">A moment later, his sword pierced her heart. She died instantly.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">It was sad, but he had no choice. When she was bitten, her fate was already sealed. A single werewolf was enough to transform an entire village in a very short time. It's like an epidemic, therefore every werewolf is to execute on the spot.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Outside 2 soldiers had problems to calm a woman. She was probably the girl's mother. She was completely hysterical.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">I hated to see something like this. Why could these people not live in peace? Why all this had to happen? I didn't know. I knew only one thing. These werewolves had to die. They had to die so that these people could live again in peace. Those who acted like a monster had to die that way. I would do it. A quick death for each of them.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">The evening was getting dark. In later than 2 h it would be dark. Commander Radik had to decide. Give chase or wait until the next morning? On one hand, the werewolves would have the advantage in the dark, on the other hand, it was the last chance to save the 2 men in time.

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<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Since the attack happened not so long ago the commander decided to chase them. None of the soldiers had objections. We climbed on the horses and gave chase.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">The sun was already half gone down, as we tracked down the werewolves. The mating had not begun jet. In the open field we had the advantage with our horses. The commander gave the order to attack immediately.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">The 8 werewolves had also noticed the riding soldiers. They were getting ready to defend their "prey" and overwhelm the attacker. Just as they got ready to strike, a bright light pierced the alpha wolf. With a steaming hole in her chest, she fell in the grass. The rest of the pack was paralyzed with fear. The archers shot next. Their arrows hit one of the werewolves 3 times in the chest. Another was hit in the shoulder and belly and had trouble to move after this. As their companions went to the ground some Mamono cried something, but I could not understand something in the noise of the horseman. Whatever it was, it had no meaning anymore.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">2 of them eventually went on the attack. They ran directly into the swords of the soldiers. The remaining 4 tried to escape, but we gave chase. The already wounded werewolf died first. I took the fleeing werewolf to the right. She was fast, but with a targeted fireball in her direction I stopped her flight. She stopped. Before she died, she stared at me. I don't know if it was fear or hatred. It was definitely the last thing she saw before my flames swallowed her body.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">Back to the troops I heard that the other 2 were also brought down. Also, both men are fine under the circumstances. That was at least one good message on this otherwise horrible day.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">The next morning we brought the men back to the village. Their families were overjoyed. At the sight of the reunited families I had to smile. It was always nice.

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">

<p align="LEFT" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0cm; line-height: 150%">On the way back, I could not stop thinking about the increased activity of monsters. Why? What was going on in the demon realms? Planned the Mamono something? Nobody knew it, at least not yet.