Of Might and Magic: Mother's Heart Forest

Siah hung his head, his fist closed tightly on the hilt of his sword. "You cannot imagine the images, the faces that plague me! I hear every scream and every plea a million times over. Were I a demon, a true demon... I would never feel the regret or pity." Siah paused, his armour was growing white hot in some places. "I cannot take it any more. I need to find a place to rest. I must find my reprieve!" The armour-clad warrior looked at Keena from under a scowling brow. "You are powerful enough to take me now. Do it or I will attack you."

Keena drew her swords with grace and ease, with one stroke of her hand she could demolish the demon before her. But he was a warrior like her, and like her it was better to die in combat then to be merely slain.

"Then come to your death demon." Again her emotionless face and voice were all he received.

Siah leapt at her, his armour glowing white. His sword flashed through the air. Flames and lightning shot from the joints in his armour. He roared a fierce roar, a deafening roar.

Keena easily parried him, her movements flowing with the grace of water and the lightness of the air. She was unfazed by his show of emotion through the flames or the lightning, she was simply doing as he asked her to do.

Siah spun after having his blow miss its mark he slashed and released two frieballs at Keena.

He jumped forward to wards her again.

Again she blocked his attacks the fire balls hitting her, but the burns healed as fast as they had been received. "I am a Celestial of the elements Siah, your fire does you no good now."

Fueled by the taunts, Siah swung at Keena with all his strength. He twisted his body low and a bolt of lightning shot from his free hand.

He would never cease to fight until there was nothing left to fight with.

She leaped away bringing her blades up as she did, slicing along his right shoulder and arm. She landed a few feet away and rose to her full height once more.

The armour took most of the blow, but the searing pain from holy Blade burnt Siah worse than any wound before hed. He stumbled a few steps backwards before regaining his composure. Without a word or sound, he flew at Keena as a flash of black and red.

His blade was aimed at her throat as an intense flame shot forth from his free hand at her.

Before he could ever reach her, Keena had charged forward and run her blade through his chest. She looked down at her hand holding the hilt of her sword as it went through him, she could see the blade on the other side dripping blood. She looked at Siah, curious to see what would happen now.

A trickle of blood ran out the corner of Siah's mouth, "She's fast! She's very fast!" He smiled at Keena. "You like it? Does that feel good?" Siah stood with Keena's blade still inside of him.

He dropped his sword to the ground and stared Keena in the eyes.

"I do not like killing, I never have. You have become my friend and so being the cause of your death hurts me greatly. But it is what you asked so I have done it. Now go and find your place Siah, may we meet again."

And as fast as she had attacked him, she ripped her blade free and spun ending in a crouching position. When she rose again, Siah's body remained standing while his head fell to the ground.

A black haze drifted from the joints in Siah's armour and his body fell over backwards. It landed with a heavy thump and lay still. The white heat was now no more. The armour was cool, black obsidian once again. The haze dissipated into the air around the grove.

There was silence and all dark energies left the grove and the presence of the two Celetsials. Keena, the Celestial Queen and Wife of Zain, High Lord of Haven now stood the victrix over the Demon Siah.

Keena turned to Gaia and nodded. "There are some that I must find. Come Silver Wind."

The wolf leapt up and followed his mistress, both walked into a swirling silvery-blue mist and disappeared from Mother's Heart Forest to return to the city of Haven.

The grass was a dark and sombre green it grew ever so slowly... but grow it did. The husk of armour on the ground was cold and lifeless.

A small crack appeared on the right greave. It was followed by a chip of Obsidian falling from the helmet and a small discolouration appearing on the breastplate. The cloak, worn by the demon Siah, was ragged and degraded by the elements. It was torn and lay still on the ground being wet with dew and soiled with mud.

A light breeze lifted up a corner of the cloak and it fluttered even though not a leaf stirred.