Darkness from a Fiercer Place – Dominion Omake
Warizan Nawkev missed his home. His bark beetle, ever so eager to eat bugs and chittering at every possible danger. The kindness of his mother, who always baked the best bread, and gave him the tastiest cookies in the Dominion, just for him. The protectiveness of his father, who was once upon a time fighting alongside the local Venerant at the borders. He always told the best stories, ever so boisterous and colorful. But Warizan knows he won't hear his loud laughter that he at times found so obnoxious in this jungle. A place where all was devoured and spewed out as bones and ash.
Humid hellhole, where only four-legged savages were lying in wait for Lidallet soldiers, where serpents killed brave warriors with abominable warping, washing off the blood that they spilled with words of righteousness. Where even worse things are now lurking, thirsting for the blood of them all.
Now, there was only him, after he ran from camp like a coward. Away from his friends and comrades. It was supposed to be his first battle, but the primal terror that he felt at the sight of bloodthirsty barbarians decided otherwise. He ran into the trees like a fool, and now there was a beast just around the corner, just a short distance from his hiding place. Just him gripping a spear in his trembling hands, while the monster was getting closer, and closer.
He wasn't a hero, he knew at least that. His father was one. Piarchoqi in famed Lida Aye were among their ranks. They wouldn't run from battle like he did. They would defend their fellow soldiers, even die if need be. They would vanquish the beast without cowering behind a boulder.
But then, the priest at the temple always told that Orilliali also wasn't a hero at first. And one isn't born a legend but becomes one. He was never exactly pious, but maybe that's it. The test that God has put before him, is to see if he is worth something. Anything. Another chance, after failing everyone at first.
He took a shuddering breath, looked to the right intent to make his last stand, and then he saw the best. Nine eyes were looking at him, each of a different hue of green. The wrinkly head was covered in drooling maws, each filled with teeth made for tearing apart innocent and guilty alike. Body vast, making it slow, and its stride wanting.
Warizan saw his chance. Adrenaline filled his body to the brim, making him move swiftly to the other side of the rock. Beast flailed back. Its tail, which surprisingly also had a maw on it, tried to snatch him. He yelped during dodging it and made a strike on the base of its tail, hoping it would in some way disable it. Daily training in the army had born fruits. The tip of his weapon pierced the monster's hide with some difficulty, yet it did nonetheless. Luckily, after his strike, the tail was now being dragged uselessly against the ground. Black ichor stained verdant understorey, making it wilt instantly. Warizan now knew even victory could bring him death.
Beast roared with all his maws in outrage, moving his main bulk after Lidal. Warizan was running and striking, giving the monster even more severe wounds, but the cloying monstrosity just won't stop! Lidal was cursing his fate, which outsiders would hear as agitated whistling. Then, in the chase through the forest, he heard the waves beating against a stone.
Beast was chasing Warizan with reckless abandon and fury, its mouth screaming in something that sounded almost like a language. Warizan ran towards the sound of the sea, wanting to, by some miracle, make the beast fall to its demise.
Here they were, man and monster. One giving chase to another. Warizan ran right next to the cliff, closer and closer, tempting the beast by slightly slowing down. Then, an unstable piece of rock fell into the abyss, and the monstrosity lost balance. A black shape fell into the sea, seven surviving eyes looking at the warrior hatefully. Warizan soon was watching the large carcass flowing among the waves. He did it. He won.
Exhausted Warizan lay down, with his worn spear next to him. His armor was stained by the blood of the monster in some places. The sound of the sea crashing upon the cliffs and the foreign cold wind calmed him soon enough for realization to come. He didn't know where he was. He couldn't return home. If his liege won or even survived the battle, Warizan was a dead man walking.
Maybe... he could remain in this place. Everything wants to kill him here, but he also isn't exactly defenseless. He killed the beast. Maybe he can kill some more. Maybe he could forgive himself if he killed more.