There was no way to understand how did a bunch of Krecks came out of nowhere, infesting the whole town in less than an a few hours. And while most commoners were pretty familiar with the local pests, none of them had ever really seem them burst out in swarms like that, nor had they ever seen their bulkiest forms, who were quickly called guardians.
Strange things had been happening all around, Great White Wolfs coming down the mountains in Poctum, True Eagles seen over Gorbak Mountains, and devastating explosions where broken focuses (magi) had appeared out of thin air and vanished just as quickly.
There were dangerous times, and the populace of the recently retaken town of Seita was not spared from these events.
Eiler Verasum was a strong kid for his age, only twelve years old and athletic as they come, skilled at hunting and a strong swimmer. Now, he was trapped inside the farthest town's house to the south with Aida Bariar, the local blacksmith's daughter.
-Rocks and sticks! They are swarming all around; they'll get to the back window- said Eiler while sneaking from the front window, across the small living room, to the window on top of the kitchen's wooden table.
His feet moving without making much noise in the board-less dirt, the house was abandoned for some time, its parts were scavenged from day one. Luckily it still had window panes and a complete roof.
-Don't move so much or they'll hear you! - whispered Aida worriedly, trying to grab his arm, failing. -They don't listen nothing! They have no ears! - Responded Eiler quickly while looking through the holes on the window boards -Then why are you tiptoeing like that? - She inquired with more challenge than curiosity. -Obvious really, they don't listen, but they feel people moving or stepping hard- explained the boy also in a whisper. She scoffed with a scared look on her face.
The small town was seemingly covered by the Kreck swarm; all but the barracks seemed completely clustered by the insect-like creatures.
Alson Bariar, local blacksmith, ran towards the barracks swinging his mace with his right hand and a short sword with the left. He was a bulky, black-bearded man with strong arms and toughened skin, bruises and old scars covering his arms and neck. Militia and swordsmen from the barracks realized the man was in dire necessity for help, and though none of them assumed command nor took initiative in this crisis, all of them yelled at the Krecks, swinging their forks and swords at them, driving them back, thus making an opening for the blacksmith to pass through.
The farthest swordsman to the left got cut hastily by the insects' sharp leaf tails, as he swung wildly in front of him, striking only air, many stings pierced his chest and legs. Dropping his sword to grab the sharp tails out of his chest, another creature jumped at him, stings up front, cutting neck and piercing more of his upper chest. On his knees, the man spluttered -Left flank down! – Completely bloodied, he fell to the ground in agony, as the Krecks pierced his body. Gorel Sturren was his name.
When the blacksmith passed through, all men recoiled to a defensive position, none willing to carry the fallen back into the barracks. The blacksmith glanced at the corpse –May you rest in Terra- he said solemnly, he then turned towards the militia inside –Where is the sergeant? What`s his plan? - He inquired with a deep and sound voice.
-Sergeant Bord is dead, died on the first wave- said one of the soldiers to his right –we’re doomed- said another one, shaking with blood on his head –There’s no hope without Exar’s Army or The Eagles to help us- he blabbered as he cried, sword in hand and facing down. The rest of them just stood there silently, some nodding and some manning the entrance. –I’m not prepared to die yet, my daughter is out there and I have to find her, either to save or to bury, but I cannot leave her alone- Said Alson coldly, the militia nodded as well, as they saw resolution in his eyes and his voice, something which all lacked.
-I know nothing of war or battles, but I craft them tools and weapons and I know how to swing them to draw blood, that’s enough for me, I want to get my daughter out of this here pit hole, and you guys will help me do it. Are you hearing me? - Inquired the blacksmith with no particular empathy, more like a stern father lecturing his children.
All of them nodded, for they seemed desperate enough to follow anyone with a commanding voice, and though the blacksmith was no general, he was respected in town and known for his strength.
-Brace yourselves and take the sweat out of your eyes- said one of the swordsmen, getting to his feet after strapping back his leather boots.-Regarding your daughter, Mister Blacksmith sir, she was seen with that boy Eiler by the abandoned house to the south- reported the young soldier with a trembling voice. Alson just nodded and started walking towards the entrance, where four men blocked the door with a wooden table, one of them piercing any Kreck that would try slashing or pushing its way through. – Get ready, everyone, we are fighting our way to that house- Ordered Alson with a demanding stance, all of them readied.
Back at the southern house, Eiler and Aida kept still by the window panes and they listened to the insects swarming all around the house, trying to pierce their way through. As dangerous as the blades and stings on the Krecks were, they lacked the strength to destroy a solid object, unless they swarmed over it, and still it would take them some time to break it.
-Don’t worry, I got an idea, I’ll open the door and you’ll shut it right behind me, I’ll run east to lure them at me, and when the way’s free you run to your dad’s, see? Perfect plan!- explained Eiler with fake enthusiasm, young as he was, he understood the concept of death at a very early age, he also heard the stories from heroes and brave men achieving impossible feats, “Eiler Verasum, the savior of Seita” thought to himself to cover the grim and unlikely ideas of him getting sliced by Krecks. –You are insane Eiler, we’ll both die the moment we open that door, let’s just wait it out here, those insects will go somewhere else, or let’s wait for night, they will paralyze right? - offered Aida in return, remembering that most Krecks paralyze at night on account of being completely blind in darkness and that they relied heavily on sunlight –Fine idea, let’s just wait- said the boy, quickly convinced and happy her friend reminded him of the creatures’ weakness, getting that suicidal idea out of his mind.
As they waited for nightfall, lying on the house ground, Eiler noticed the ground stopped the slight trembling for a second, and then a series of heavy thuds were heard and felt in the ground, his eyes widened as he looked at Aida- The guardians are mov...argh!- Claws the size of a wheel cart destroyed half the front wall of the house, showing after the smoke the shape of the giant red Kreck, a 2 meters tall, naturally armored, insect-like hulk of a creature that could easily cut a horse in half if it tried.
-Run!- screamed Eiler covering his head, Aida had a bruise of her forehead, since a wooden block struck her when part of the ceiling fell, Eiler grabbed her by the arm and started running towards the back window, he opened it and looked back, the hulkish insect tearing the rest of the house and making its way through the rubble –Hurry up!- he yelled, Aida jumped out of the house only to face dozens of Krecks, she instinctively covered her face with her arms, but the creatures moved so slow now, and she realized the lack of light was taking effect – they’re freezing!- she screamed triumphal –Yeah but he’s not!- said Eiler when he jumped out, both kids started running through the swarm of insects that moved slower now, still being quite dangerous and lashing out fairly quick at them, only to fail at the kids velocity.
It was only a matter of time they got slashed and cut, but none of the cuts were serious enough to slow them down.
Not far from there, the Blacksmith’s men fought their way south, screaming and fighting the battle of their lives. Alson noticed the kids running through the swarm – We move south! Move now! Aida! Over here!- he screamed loudly over the soldiers and the slowed swarm, who did not seem to stop completely at night, but they were far less dangerous.
The kids ran through, as the Kreck guardian, followed by another one, pursued them without pause, seemingly unaffected by the sun’s absence. The fighters formed a defensive circle around the kids – Aida, are you ok girl!? Thank the winds! - screamed Alson as he saw the girl practically unharmed amidst such a hazardous battlefield.
-Yeah we’re fine! - Responded Eiler –but if those insect beasts reach us, we’re not gonna be fine! – He pointed at the guardians pushing the Krecks away to make their way towards them.
-May the emperor protect us! - yelled one the soldiers, as some Krecks lashed stings at him. The Krecks were not really much of a problem now, so long as they didn’t get careless, but to manage the Krecks and to fight those new creatures was a completely different task. They felt their energy rush wash away, in turn new found fear posed in their spirits. –Fall back to the barracks! - Alson yelled.
They started pushing their way back to the barracks, yet no so quick as to avoid the guardians approaching, swinging and panting the soldiers fought their way back just in time to get most of them inside the barracks –They are going to break it all, they are strong enough to break houses! – Screamed Eiler at Alson – Shut it boy! I’ll draw them to me, you get inside the house, protect Aida! - replied the blacksmith, throwing a rock at the guardian which was dangerously close to them.
The guardian swung its claw at Alson, who barely dodged the surprisingly fast attack. –Father, no! - screamed Aida, as she and the rest got inside the barracks. Yet the other guardian turned towards the building and smashed into it. –No! Fight me you brainless monster! - Alson yelled at the second guardian that completely ignored him.
The immense insect attempted to grab and squeeze Alson several times, driving him back to the town’s square, where dozens of citizens laid dead, pierced and severed violently by the swarm. The second guardian started pounding the barracks building, soldiers and kids pressing against the opposite wall –we have to escape this place or we’ll die!- screamed another fighter, opening the window and signaling everyone to go out the window- move fast!-.
Everyone started jumping out the window as the creature tore ceiling and walls altogether, pushing its way like it was foot through sand. – Throw something at it! Attack it somehow! - Yelled Eiler, confused by the soldiers’ cowardice –You have swords and forks! Stab him for Commander’s sake! - Most of them just got out of the building without looking back. Eiler tripped one of them and grabbed his sword when the soldier fell –Run you coward! I’ll save your behind! - And as he gripped the short sword with two hands, the guardian tore the rest of the barracks, shadowing Eiler under its massive size. There was a moment of silence, where soldiers, kids and creature stood still, like witnessing the silence before life ended for one or the rest.
Back at the square, Alson battled the creature as best he could, but no ordinary blacksmith with ordinary weaponry would do harm to this creature, its armor to thick to pierce, its strength too much to match. Yet Alson did scratch the thing once or twice with his wild swings at it, and the creature was fast but predictable. Alson could at least slow it down and wait for an opening.
The creature swung its claws at the blacksmith and he parried, it swung again and Alson dodged, but as the fight endured Alson grew weary, and in his back step he tripped with the arm of a dead villager. The guardian moved quickly over him and caught him between its claws, he yelled painfully as the creature squeezed mechanically. Blood gurgled from his mouth, the cracking sound of his ribs let him know he was about to die, yet he grabbed the pincer tips and tried to force his way out, it was impossible to match the strength of that giant pincer.
Alson glared at the guardian’s clustered eyes, and he remembered his little girl being just a toddler in his arms, the image of her riding a horse for the first time, the innocent infant laughter as he goofed for her, and the night her mom died, how they embraced each other in sadness. All those moments flashed through his mind and the pain numbed out on his ribs, the pressure was too much. –I’m sorry Aida, I wanted to see you a grown woman…- he whispered to the air.
The beast squeezed more, but its pincers didn’t close as expected, veins popping out of Alson’s arms, his jugular engorged by the effort his arms made to match the monster’s grip –I…urghh… want to live!!- He yelled slowly in tears as he forced the pincer open with shaking arms, his eyes set on the guardian. The snapping sound made him know the pincer had broken and lost its potency; he fell then to the ground, gaining breath.
The creature rapidly attacked him with its other claw, Alson blocked by grabbing the outer part of the pincer –I will live!- he yelled as blood burst from his mouth, his eyes bloodshot and his torso draining the life’s liquid to the ground. Suddenly a whistling sound flew by his ear and struck the guardian’s eye cluster. He flinched and pushed away the claw, rolling to the opposite side to get his sword back, leaving a blood trail in his path.
The creature snapped the arrow and moved in the general direction where the arrow came from, two more whistling sounds, and two arrows quickly struck the creature when its mouth opened. The guardian froze as it fell to the ground with a big thud. Bubbles came out of its mouth.
Alson got his sword, he stood up making an effort, and struck his sword in the guardian’s eye cluster all the way to the hilt, the guardian stopped moving. He turned to arrows direction, a black silhouette moving quickly through the plains “An eagle?” he thought, covering his wounds with his arms.
On the other side, three soldiers lay torn on the ground and another was being crushed by the guardian’s pincer. Eiler struck the creature’s legs as frantically as adrenaline would allow, doing little to no damage, and the rest of the soldiers shielding themselves with weapons up front.
Aida hid among them, crying in terror.
The guardian had trouble finding and swinging at Eiler, he was fast and nimble, the creature too slow for him, and Eiler too weak to kill it. –It has weak points in the joints, mouth and eyes, throw rocks or something! - He yelled at the soldiers while jumping and dodging and swinging around the creature’s legs. Those who had tried before were now dead, and Eiler kept the creature busy, but the remaining swordsmen and militia did not have the courage to face the creature that had torn their friends apart.
In a sudden move, the kid rolled between the guardian’s feet, and as the creature turned to face the kid, it stepped on the kid’s foot, crushing it. Aida gasped and the boy let out a mute shout in pain, the soldiers moved in shouting attacking the creature’s back, but the guardian paid no attention to them. Its prey was as its mercy; it leaned on Eiler and clawed at him. Eiler covered his head with his arms, nothing happened, with closed eyes he heard the clash between claw and metal. He opened his eyes to see a black caped green hooded warrior, with a Frigil war bow cutting away the guardian’s pincer, the warrior moved so fast, the guardian only hit air when it attacked.
The hooded warrior rained blows and cuts on the creature with his war bow, a steel bow with sharpened ends to fight at range and close combat, the signature weapon of the Honor Eagles, the most renowned fighters of Exar region.
When the guardian swung its claws, the hooded fighter spun acrobatically, dodging the attacks and slicing open the soft parts of the creature, had the others not been there witnessing such velocity, none would’ve believed it. In a consecutive flurry of blows and slashes, the guardian fell cut open in many places. As soon as the beast hit the floor, the hooded fighter kneeled over Eiler – press your leg just above the wound, you did fine kid- he then put a black ointment over the kid’s wound – this should heal in two days, but I have to move now-
The soldiers were astonished at the Eagle’s velocity and deadliness, and they moved in slowly towards him- th…thank you sir, we…- The eagle turned his gaze upon them, glaring at them with bright eyes- You will heal this kid, and the man on the square, they are the only men I’ve found here tonight, I shall return in ten moons, should they be dead by then, hide as best as you can, for an Eagle will be hunting you down- he said coldly and without pause. They just nodded nervously and rushed to the kid’s aid.
Aida looked in the square’s direction and saw her father succumbed in his walk towards them. –Father! - She yelled, running towards him. Alson fell to the ground, weak and pale.
-Father, don’t worry, we will heal you, let me get the medicine- said Aida hastily, Alson just smiled and closed his eyes – It’s ok Aida, I love you so much, tell that awful kid that I want him to protect you for as long as he lives. He’s a good lad- Aida held his hands and cried on his chest, he brushed her hair with his hand and kissed her forehead, right on the bruise –there there, you are all patched up, now get…back…out there…and play- Whispered Alson the Blacksmith, as he drew his last breath.
The rest gathered around him, with Eiler on a makeshift stretcher, the Eagle kneeled, checked the blacksmith’s pulse, closed his eyes – May the winds guide your spirit, brave man- said gently and stood- You will not sleep tonight if you call yourselves soldiers, you will kill all the remaining Krecks, shouldn’t be too hard for you, they’re not moving at all- ordered the eagle- There are survivors on those three houses, four injured on the main house over there and some kids over those trees over there, clever, Krecks don’t climb- he instructed the soldiers and then approached the girl –What was your father’s name?-
-Alson, Alson Bariar the Blacksmith- she whispered between sobs. Eiler was asleep and the remaining survivors helped eliminate the immobile Krecks.
The eagle left before dawn, the soldiers and survivors helped clean the mess and buried the dead.
As hard as life had become for those who lived, they lived. Thanks to the sacrifice of a father and the courage of a kid, thanks to a wondering Eagle of Honor.
Eiler would long remember the skill of the eagle, and the courage of the blacksmith. Long he would strive to become a fighter, to protect that which he loved.
Another day passed, and the winds blew gently over Seita.