Rune Artifact:

It was night. Cold, dark, and evil as it may be, it is inevitable. He was Black. Cold, evil and more, he was, but he was a part of him. Colt listened to Vivaldi in silence. The silence of the night, of the dark shadows and the old Milbury forests, reverberated with his own. The stormy winds, the cloudy skies, the crackling thunder and the rampaging arcane became one with his silence. A smile lit his lips. A voice laughed in his mind. His arcane dried up, his sword grew dark, and his eyes turned serene but were they truly silent?

Colt glanced at the skies. His eyes followed the clouds, the thunder and the wind as they formed a hurricane, boisterous and unforgiving, but he remained calm. Colt, a voice called. Colt glanced at Vivaldi. Call me, it continued. Colt tightened the grip on his sword. Just like the past, it said. Colt breathed in. Let me out, it argued, Colt eyes narrowed. Call me Colt, it roared. And, Colt smiled.

Blue eyes stared at Colt coldly. Lacking emotions, algid with a desire to kill. The hurricane carried his killing intent, and a second later he disappeared. It was silent as a grave for a second. People held their breaths; the screeching wind grew gentle, and the trembling ground turned still. It was the silence before a storm, like the northern sleet.

“Black,” Colt said breaking the silence of three parts. One, his own. The other belonged to the night, and the third resonated with the spirit unseen.

A sigh reverberated in the air, and the still air quivered. Vivaldi appeared before Colt, his hands glowing in an otherworldly sheen of blue, resembling his hair and the arcane swirling around him. His eyes gelid with killing intent caught Colt unguarded. “Vale meum,” he said in old Cimmerian. Goodbye, my friend.

Colt glanced at Vivaldi closing towards him and smiled. Something changed in him that instant. A savage smile and a murderous killing intent lit his eyes. A black aura of infinite coldness surrounded him. A wild laugh escaped his mouth breaking the silence of Vivaldi’s heart. The fearless Cimmerian instinctively took a step back, his pride and all left aside; he stood in silence.

The arcane in the air shuddered. Ragnar felt a shiver down his spine as he somehow felt the change in the air. It wasn’t just him. Jack, Ursula, and others somehow knew that something has changed. Vivaldi glanced at Colt; eyes narrowed in suspicion. What was that? He thought. I saw something in his eyes. Was it my imagination? He questioned.

Colt raised his sword and looked at his dim reflection on the old steel. The sword was black, old and rusty it was, but he never used another. He smiled as he closed his eyes, or did he? But, he did glance at Vivaldi and said, “Vale meum,” repeating the Cimmerian's words and added, “Requiesce in pace.” - Rest in peace.

His hand moved, and the sword glittered. The wind screamed, and the arcane twisted. The ground shuddered, and the splintered wood rived as Colt bolted forward. Vivaldi’s pupils shrank, and he’d retreated before he realized.

“Veni forthe,” Vivaldi roared. Come forth. The Lickers, the discarnate souls, and the Darkspren sprang to life as the night suddenly became darker. Colt calmly lifted his sword, emotionless and swift, as he reached them.

“Colt,” Ursula screamed. She’d shouted his name before she could stop herself. Ragnar watched in shock, and so did everyone. A hundred Dakspren, thousands of souls and unseen Lickers surrounded Colt in a blink of an eye. Vivaldi stood outside the storm of dark beings. But, he wasn’t smiling, and his eyes betrayed his calm expression. He’d remember that acute sense of danger forever.

Colt scanned with his eyes and murmured something. His blade suddenly engulfed all the darkness of the night, of the space and beyond. It was at that moment, a piece of true black, a color which represented his Arcanum. He breathed in and kicked the ground and swept the Dakspren, souls and Lickers alike in a mighty swing.

It started with a gust of wind. The sword strike, and it soon tore apart the air, making a partial vacuum. The black aura of the attack engulfed the dark beings; it did as Vivaldi watched in horror. It’ll engulf me, he thought but instead the Lickers, the Dakspren, and the discarnate souls perished like moths. Screams and purple blood adorned the night, and Colt stood tall staring at the Cimmerian, with a true black sword in his hand.

“Ru.. Rune Artifact!” Vivaldi stuttered staring at the sword in Colt’s hands. Darren's eyes widened as he fell to his knees. He’d seen and heard stuff of legends in a span of few hours and now he’d even seen a weapon of legends, a Rune Artifact.

Jack's fingers tightened around his spear as he glanced at Colt. He’d seen the sword before. It was old, black and a little chipped but Colt never used another. So you were a Rune Knight, Colt. He thought. It mattered not who held a Rune artifact; he’d be a Rune Knight, the highest order of the Knights Radiant.

Colt glanced at Vivaldi and said, “Leave, please.” His eyes were a little uncertain. Vivaldi clenched his fist, but he didn’t attack. He was too confused, the black sword in Colt’s arms added more to his thoughts. “Who’re you? He asked weakly. Rune Knight, you’d be a general if you served the imperial army. But, you’re leading a small mercenary group. Just who’re you? He thought.

“Xarus of Decim.” Colt’s calm voice answered him.

“How do you know that name?” Vivaldi asked with widened eyes. Colt smiled a little and replied, “Who knows.” Vivaldi gritted his teeth, his hands reaching for something in his robes, but paused as he thought it out and then disappeared a second later. The gelid aura, rampaging arcane and the stormy clouds cleared within moments. Everything returned to normal as if it was all a dream but the destroyed grounds, uprooted trees, and bones of old told a tale of great battle.

The men and women alike fell to their knees in exhaustion, but they were looking at each other and Colt in wonder. They’d all surrendered themselves to fate, most of them had already said their prayers, but not a single life was lost. They’d seen Lickers, Dakspren and countless discarnate souls, all capable of immeasurable destruction and they’d seen Colt. He was an Arcane user, a Rune Knight and a warrior who bested a legendary Cimmerian.

Colt glanced at his arms. His sword dimmed and returned to its old form. The dust and blood on the steel formed a viscous coating of sorts which slowly dripped down from the tip of the sword. He then glanced at everyone and smiled, his expression warm and his smile relieved.

Jack ran forward, and Ursula followed behind. ‘Colt,” Jack called. “You..you’re fine right?” Ursula asked in a small voice. Her eyes were red, her usual demeanor all gone and she was trembling slightly. Her eyes scanned the man again and again and more until she was certain he hadn’t suffered any serious injuries.

“Is my body so attractive. Did you fall for me?” Colt teased. “Again?” he asked. Ursula finally recovered, her face flushed with embarrassment. She’d almost reached for her sword but stopped as she remembered the events of the nights. Her eyes darted to the ground; Colt was an Arcane user, a Rune Knight, and now a hero who saved thousands. He’d undoubtedly receive praise, fame and more. Women, wealthy and beautiful would be by his side. What am I? Ursula thought. I’m no one, and neither can I help him. What right do I have to stay by his side? She questioned herself.

“Stop thinking Ursula,” Colt said drawing her attention. “I can listen to your thoughts,” he said as a matter of fact. Ursula's eyes widened in shock, and Jack took a step back similarly startled. Colt looked at Jack in confusion and asked gravely, “Why’re you backing away? Don’t tell me....wait, let me check your thoughts.”

“Don't!” Jack screamed at the top of his lungs and ran away before Colt could even react. Ursula gulped and looked at Colt like a frightened sheep. “Since when?” she asked weakly. Colt looked into her eyes, smiled mischievously and replied, “From the very beginning.”

“You’re lying,” Ursula screamed. She was trying to deny her fears. “Yes, I am,” Colt laughed.

Ursula looked at Colt. Her frightened eyes soon turned red with embarrassment. Her body quivered in shame as she reached for her sword, but a hand caught her by the nape and dragged her into a warm embrace. She smelled his blood, sweat and more. The blood of the dark beings. But, she didn’t care. Before she knew it, she melted into his embrace. Her hands traced his back, his shoulder blades and finally reached his neck.

“I’m back Ursula,” Colt whispered in her ear. Her eyes which tried their best to contain themselves finally burst out crying in his arms. “You’d better be, every time, else I’ll kill you,” she said in between muffled cries. Colt caught the eyes of Ragnar, who’d come to see him and smiled. “I know,” he said.

Em whistled as he followed Ragnar. “Ah! Love birds, fortunately, we still have some tents. Want me to secure one for you? You do realize that this kid is watching you, right?” He said pointing at Ragnar.

Colt laughed while Ursula hurriedly collected herself. Ragnar watched in surprise as he saw her flushed face. He unknowingly burst out laughing as he compared her current self to the scary woman he’d seen the previous day. Ursula’s face flushed more as she heard Ragnar. Cursing to herself, she quietly left to join the cheering mercenaries.

Em sighed and ruffled Ragnar’s hair. “Do you have a death wish kid? That woman is the last person you should laugh at,” he said.

“Sir Colt,” Darren called from behind. Ragnar watched him as he respectfully bowed and greeted Colt. Darren was a Ranked Knight, the lowest order of the Knights Radiant. Being a Rune bearer, Colt surpassed his station by three ranks, but that was only on paper. In reality, a Rune bearer had a status comparable to a Duke.

Colt glanced at Darren. His smile disappeared as he ordered in a calm voice, “We march to Ashfield at dawn. For now, you’ll follow my command. Is that agreeable, Sir Darren?”

Darren looked confused, but he nodded and said, “Yes, Sir.”

Colt looked at the field. Purple blood and remains of Lickers littered the forest floor. Splintered wood and fallen trees were everywhere in the vicinity. I hope my fears are unwarranted, he thought and walked back to the camp.

*****

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[url=https://kannablogs.wordpress.com/chapter-5-forest-of-flames/]Chapter 5 - Forest of Flames