“Mighty Yrzog, the God of Slaughter/War; Great Grosash, the Devourer; Unflinching Lurruth, the Great Protector; Mother Yalar, the Beserker Consort; and Baleful Bazuch, the Master of the Inferno Force. With titles like that for your Gods, it’s no wonder why the orcs are such rowdy folk.”


    -?? Adventurer Jeroen Kalis, “On Orcish Culture.”


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    The proceedings halted at once, the sacred ceremony of a hidden society, violent in its own right, soon found itself engulfed in a storm of brutal vengeance. Like a whirlwind the minotaur swept in, his axe crashing left and right as no skull, bone, limb or creature remained whole as he passed by. Goblins and hobs alike exploded into bloodied messes that added to the river of blood flowing down from the ritual site, the shamans and orcs momentarily stunned at the vicious attack. What horrified even her was how silent Taurox was, with every swing, slash, and cleave he dispatched one of their does. Yet, he was silent, save for a few grunts or snarls, the minotaur just waded through the now panicking horde with a deadly serenity.


    Sophie herself let out a subdued growl of her own before she joined the minotaur. The Prince’s sword was well balanced, just heavy enough for her to feel the impacts and know that she had taken yet another life. Her new blade bit deep into a nearby goblin, the creature standing confused moments ago now lay writhing in agony as she removed the blade from its throat, the darkened blood spilling out into the stone floor below. With another swing her blade found purchase in the giant slit left open by a hobgoblin’s armour, the creature snarling and choking in anger before she slipped her blade out, ready to continue the attack.


    Two of the hobs on her flank finally reacted, their halberds thrusting directly at her. She managed to slap one away before charging between the two polearms, deftly avoiding the oncoming strike. She pulled her arm back and lunged forward with a viscous strike, the blade spearing the right hob through the eye and the shoddily made helmet. Ripping it back out she avoided a second blow from the remaining hob before slashing side to side, the blade managing to slice right through the hob’s hands. Disabled, it reeled backwards and hollered in pain. In the meanwhile, Sophie saw that Taurox had cut a swathe through the entire horde and had climbed onto the stage.


    It was only now that Taurox finally let out a roar that stunned all who heard it. A guttural cry from the very depths of his being that ran out through the caves, the cry of a beast so powerful that even the most stalwart of foes reeled from the impact. Like a beast rightfully proclaiming its throne. But, to her surprise the female orc jumped up from her seat and roared a battlecry of her own. The orc pulled out two axes strapped to the throne and leapt at the minotaur, the two clashing in a fight for supremacy.


    Her brief distraction was immediately ruined when she heard the sickening crack of a skull being crushed. Her eyes focused on the horrifying sight of one of the orcs having thrown the prisoner against the wall and charging at her with his blades drawn. Behind him, she managed to catch a brief glimpse of Aryana. She was now wide awake and desperately struggled against the captor that held her. Fuck.


    The first orc smashed the goblins in his way to a pulp, his rippling muscles telling to her a powerful opponent filled with only visions of her death. Wary, she cut through a few more cowering goblins before the orc launched a surprised lunge at her. Caught off guard, Sophie barely had time to parry with her blade when the strike hit. Though she had braced herself for this, the moment the blade made contact with the orc’s she felt a ripple of force nearly tearing her apart as his raw strength significantly out matched hers.


    Allowing the blow to send her staggering backwards, she used the opportunity to launch an attack of her own, slashing deep into the orc’s abdomen. Yet, through no fault of her own, the orc merely ignored the blow and continued its ferocious assault, hacking and slashing at her with no regard to the goblins still cowering nearby. Keeping on her toes, she avoided another series of axe strikes. That evidently angered the orc enough, and he threw one of the axes at her. The attack was slow and telegraphed as she saw his muscles and posture shift. What she didn’t expect was the force behind that blow as well. Having dodged the attack, she quickly turned behind her to find the axe had decapitated one goblin and now lodged itself into another. Can’t get hit by an attack like that, I’ll die out here. Seeking a quicker solution lest her good fortune runs out, at avoiding hits, she remembered the dirty trick Eva had taught her.


    Sophie held her ground but kept her distance, the orc also seeming cautious before it sensed her perceived weakness. With a dark grin it tried to rush her position only for Sophie to lunge forward at an angle. The sickening pop followed by the sound of blood gushing out of a wound where the orc’s genital’s once resided. The creature howled in agony, doubling over in pain before Sophie plunged her sword through the side of its head. The orc crashed to the ground as she extracted her blade, her eyes focused on the remaining orc holding Aryana.


    Most of the goblins and hobs that could flee already fled the room, the few most spirited ones having moved to just spectate the fights instead. To the right, the minotaur still engaged the orcish berserker in combat, but beneath them lay the two bodies of the shamans, slain within but a moment of their struggle.


    The orc ahead of her sensed the challenge and let out a sinister grin, throwing the girl on his shoulders to the ground. Even Sophie winced at the heavy thud when Aryana hit the ground. But when the panicked girl’s chest started rising up and down once more, she allowed herself a small grin of her own. Wounded, probably some injuries, but alive. Now, I get to focus on this bastard. May Gratiax guide my blade.


    She rushed forward past two hobgoblins who just only came to their senses, their shocked yelling and pointing doing little to inspire the smaller goblins who continued fleeing en masse. The orc in turn let out a battlecry and charged at her, axes swinging madly while bloodlust emanated from his maddened eyes. Her blade met the axe and held, but the orc used the small jut on the axe to trap her sword and pull her in. Sophie tried to hold her ground but was launched backwards by a vicious headbutt, her skull pulsating with pain as she reeled from the impact. Ringing and confusion cluttered her senses, but she was able to at least back away from the next strike, the orc letting out a frustrated grunt from the near miss. On the back foot, Sophie tried to seize the initiative while the orc recovered. She lunged forward, her right leg propelling her forward. Yet, she noticed too late the orc’s feint, the creature''s free meaty hand sending shockwaves throughout her body as it made contact. Not even given a chance to recover, the orc swept her legs out from under her, sending her to the ground before looming over her with his axe.


    Suddenly, the massive creature staggered for a moment, the trembling redhead having tried to fruitlessly tackle the much larger creature. With an annoyed snort, the orc threw himself backward and Sophie could only look on as Aryana scraped against the ground. Thanking the girl for the distraction, Sophie pushed herself up and closed what distance she could, her blade finding purchase in the orc, but only just. Too close to swing properly, it bit into his skin, barely sinking into his muscles before the orc let out an unrestrained roar and tore the blade out of her grasp. Panicked, she flailed around for a weapon before turning to the one thing that could work. Dirty tactics. She threw everything she had into pushing herself towards the orc, slamming her frail body against the mountain of muscle. The orc grinned, seeing her desperation and wrapped his meaty hands around her neck, lifting her up to eye level, one last gloat before the prey died.


    Despite being choked and her mind growing fuzzy, she pushed through and lunged forward with her arms, her hands finding stability as they wrapped around the orc’s neck, a feebly squeeze that only made the creature laugh. Yet, with its guard slightly down, she struck. Weaponless, she took advantage of the minor change of the orc’s hands to double down around her neck by lifting her own arms up to its face. With reckless abandon, she thrust her hand at his eyes, his hubris only catching up as his face twisted into fury. But, it was too late, she had been faster and could feel her fingers penetrate into the stiff and spongy eye, forcing herself to fight past her revulsion and dig her way in further. The orc roared in pain and fury, his hands moving to throw her away.


    Only now did Sophie manage to eke out a dark smile amidst the pain. She felt her back collide against the cavern walls, the stones digging into her flesh as new bruises popped up where the skin still remained uncut. But, she held on. When he had thrown her, she had only dug in tighter. Now, in her hands were now two freshly plucked red eyeballs, the nerve tissue that once connected it to the orc’s skull now rested limply in her palms like slimy red hairs. The orbs, one partially squished and the other still intact, were coated in blood and mucus, the thin membrane peel barely holding it together. Mildly disgusted, she squeezed with all her might, the two eyes popping like little grapes, turning into a river of jellied insides and blood.


    The eyeless orc let out blood curdling screams of pain so visceral that even Taurox and the berserker paused for a brief moment to look, while the nearby hobs looked so shaken that they could only stare. The blind orc swung wildly with one hand, the other nursing his recently emptied sockets. Not willing to risk her brief advantage, she dashed back over to her sword, grabbing it and plunged it deep into the jaws of the orc in between his panicked thrashing. With another pained gurgle it finally slowed its movements, the blade''s extraction bringing it to its knees as the axe clattered to the ground below from his hands.


    Covered by the blood that shot out from the new opening in its head, Sophie quickly shoved it aside and ran over to the fallen girl, keeping a close eye on the nearby goblins.


    “Aryana, Aryana! Can you hear me?” She hissed, her eyes still focused on the goblins that stared at her with hatred and fear in equal measure.


    “Unnghh, I-ughh.” The redhead groaned as she stirred back to consciousness.


    “Walk, okay? Just walk, alright?” Sophie spoke, barely lifting the girl before throwing her arms over her shoulders.


    “Murrgh…ahhh…argh!” Aryana screamed from the pain.


    Sophie quickly hoisted her to her feet and held her free hand out with her blade, pointing it menacingly at the goblins. Seeing no reaction, she tried to shuffle out with Aryana when the remaining orc finally spoke.


    “Stop them!” The berserker bellowed.


    To their misfortune, whatever spell the shocking assault had cast upon the goblins finally wore off, the little green creatures picking up a variety of makeshift spears, sticks and weapons. The hobgoblins too, shook off their stupor. They moved to attack the duo with their halberds only to find themselves decapitated by a raging minotaur.


    “Go! I’ll hold them back! Go!” Taurox roared, “Pathetic greenskins, targeting the weak! Foul warriors with no purpose!” Beating his chest, the minotaur carved through the remaining goblins to open a path for the two, himself slowly retreating from the berserker who only now realized what he was doing.


    “Stop them! They flee! Cowards!” The orc cried out.


    Goblins of all shapes and sizes tried their best to dispatch the minotaur, but like their hobgoblin and orc overlords have failed, they too joined the fallen. Goblins fell by the dozen and, by the time Sophie carried Aryana past the door, only a handful of hobgoblins and the orc berserker remained. With a frustrated roar, the orc charged past her hobs, only for the minotaur to take off running, hefting both Sophie and Aryana up in his arms, his axe clattering to the ground behind them.


    Even weaponless, Taurox was unstoppable, no goblin in front of them lasted long enough to offer resistance. Sophie had remembered how Eva had once told her the story of an entire labyrinth built just to contain a minotaur. Seeing how dizzyingly quick he was retracing their steps, she could understand why.


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    When Taruox finally placed them down, Sophie quivered from sickness, her stomach expelling all its contents in a non stop barrage of projectile vomit. He had carried them far, far further than she expected away from the cave. Aryana just moved quietly to some shade under a tree to nurse her wounds, whilst Taurox kept a watchful eye on their surroundings as the two girls recovered.


    Sophie was partly sick from the dizzying speed in which she got carried out, the ground and ceiling having turned into a blur even when they retreated to the open sky beyond the cave. A gentle breeze tickled their senses, the sweat from action now coating them in a layer of chill under the dark night sky. Even the moon hid behind the clouds, only the faintest of lights shining down upon the land with its ethereal glow. Though not altogether unpleasant, Sophie retched again, but this time, because of herself.


    She was disgusted, horrified by how casually she had joined the minotaur, how quickly she had placed herself into a mindset where she could simply ignore it all even for a moment. The scent of irony orcish and goblin blood refused to leave her nose, the sounds of the dying orc alongside the pained screams of their prisoners lingered even now. We couldn’t save them, we couldn’t save them at all, we didn’t even do anything for them, I didn''t do anything. How…how can I be a heroine when I can’t even help save them from such suffering?


    The eerie sensation of a jellified goopy eye still tainted her palms, unable to be forgotten despite how many times she washed them in the stream. Turning her head sideways, she threw up one final time before frantically trying to clean herself in the stream, splashing water all over herself and leaving her uniform soaking wet in the process. With her stomach finally emptied, she felt light headed and finally slowed her pace, the exhaustion finally gripping hold of her and tearing her away from the brink of madness.


    “Are you holding on?” Taurox asked.


    Sophie groaned and nodded, “Barely.”


    “Good. The next part of the road should be relatively clear.”


    Sophie snorted weakly and turned her gaze to the road ahead. The caravan had clearly come through here, goblins and hobgoblins aplenty lay dead alongside the roads, most with arrows sticking out of them or traces of magic from the gaping holes in their chests. A few met their end by blade or melee but all in all, it would seem the caravan escaped.


    “Sure I can’t convince you to let us join you?” Sophie asked.


    “No. Firstly, it''s too important. Secondly, you still need training, a year or two at the academy will do you good.” Taurox snorted derisively.


    “A year or two?!”


    “The past few months have not been exciting enough for you?” Taurox answered.


    Sophie held her tongue, her mind deflating and focusing back on more immediate issues. Given how dried the orc blood seemed, they wouldn’t catch up to the caravan at this rate and given their exhaustion it was unlikely to happen regardless. As such, Taurox had left most of the supplies and the warhorse for them, his gaze turned downwards towards the open fields. They had agreed that the orcs could not be left to fester, their presence was too dangerous and given the capturing of prisoners, Sophie had reluctantly shared her suspicions, prodding the minotaur into action. Taurox would run as fast as he could to Foreach, alert local officials, summon church reinforcements and whatever militia he could to terminate any surviving greenskins and rescue what prisoners they could. Sophie on the other hand, would continue towards Arteria, protecting Aryana as well who seemed to pay little mind to the two of them. Even if she wanted to see the cave system cleansed, she understood his reasoning and could only sigh tiredly in agreement.


    “Recover first, but remember to keep practicing your drills. I couldn’t help but notice your improving if still poor fighting stances during our little skirmish in the cavern.” Taurox admonished, “You need to focus on proper footwork and being aware of your surroundings.”


    Sophie just returned his words with a displeased glare,, but the minotaur just smiled.


    “Now, let’s not tarry here. Clear as it is, I doubt the orcs would simply stay idle given our escape and their failed raid. May the stars guide your path, and may the two of you be blessed by the stars.” Taurox grunted.


    “Blessed by the stars. And stars guide you too.” Sophie cocked her head.


    The two turned their gaze to the redhead who kept to herself, Sophie just giving Taurox a reassuring nod. I’ll take care of her, don’t worry.


    The minotaur huffed and gave the two girls one last inquisitorial salute. Almost immediately turning around and sprinting back down the path, heading for the detour they passed a while back that leads to Foreach. Sophie took the moment to groan with exhaustion, her muscles finally loosening as they uncoiled themselves from the tension that held her taut.


    Yet, when the minotaur had exited earshot, she could hear the subtle sounds of someone crying and turned her attention to the redhead. Aryana had tried to keep silent, that much Sophie could tell, but her emotions were leaking out, the girl quivering on the spot, vibrating ever so slightly. Cautiously, Sophie inched forward to find the redhead crossing her arms and cradling herself, a light tinge of fear between every breath she took.


    Sophie kneeled down and slowly met the girl’s eyes, the emerald green pupils widening as she stared right back at her.


    “S-s-sorry.” Aryana murmured softly.


    Sophie just stared for a moment before she felt a slight shuddering within her, her eyes glazing over as her mind traveled back in time. She saw in front of her another red haired person, quivering and crying in sorrow. Her heart sank and she mustered up a small smile for the one left behind and the one now in front of her. But it wasn’t enough, Sophie looked down at her hand, her own wrists still trembling slightly from how hard she had gripped onto the sword the entirety of being carried by the minotaur. Disappointment etched itself onto her face, her brows furrowing at the intrusive thought that snuck its way back into her mind. Tainted, I’m tainted by sin and murder. I’m a monster. A monster trying to play pretend.


    “It’s okay.” She whispered back, unsure who she was trying to reassure.


    “I-I’ve just been a burden…and I…I got you into this mess. I’m sorry.”


    Sophie just nodded solemnly but found the girl only looking more dejected than ever.


    “I-I’m a burden and I…I’m scared. I was so scared back there. When I woke up to the darkness…the orcs…I was so scared and I-” Aryana stammered out.


    “...wanted to cry. To just…hope it all goes away.” Sophie finished for her.


    “Y-yeah.” Aryana grumbled.


    Seeing her poor state, Sophie couldn’t help but kneel down a little closer, taking great care to avoid physically touching the innocent soul.


    “Me too.” Sophie said, managing to catch the girl’s attention. “I’m sorry too.”


    “For…for what?”


    “For being rude, amongst other things. But also putting you in this position, in danger.”


    “Wha-what do you mean?” Aryana asked.


    “I just wanted to protect you. Keep you safe from harm after everything that happened. I…I couldn’t bear losing someone else because of me. So sorry, sorry if I tried to push you away from this journey.” Sophie sighed, her eyes closed with regret, unwilling to see the disappointed expression likely on Aryana’s face.


    “Pro…protect me? By pushing me away? Why? To leave me alone again?!” Came the incredulous yell.


    “No! No…I just figured you’d be safer…well literally anywhere but with us.”


    “Anywhere but…the gall! I-I’d rather you just tell me I’m a burden and you want to leave me behind. At least…at least then it’ll make sense!” Aryana snapped, “Aren’t you Vaettagh as well?! If I’m not up to standard just tell me! Just don’t…don’t leave me behind without warning…” Aryana’s voice dropped to a quiet whisper.


    Sophie could hear the pain and finally opened her eyes, seeing the girl deflated and on the verge of tears. Yet, she couldn’t help herself, her own memories mixing in with the scene ahead of her and she allowed herself a sad chuckle.


    “So…that’s it then…I’m just…just another laughing stock here as well? Another joke and-”


    Sophie only chuckled some more between gritted teeth and smashed a balled fist into the ground, stunning the girl to silence.


    “You’ve seen what happened in Melisgrad, the entire city is just gone, its people wiped out from existence just like that.” She snapped her fingers, “All of that, all of it is something I’ve seen before, the same signs the same…fucking cult!” She screamed in rage as her fingers dug into the earth. “And you, you want to tag alone with this band of misfits?!”


    There was a tense silence as Sophie tried to collect herself, Aryana fidgeting with her hands before she finally looked up.


    “I do.” She mumbled, “But I…I don’t want to be alone.”


    “Hah…hahaha!” Sophie cackled, “To not be alone you’d go through all this?! To travel willingly into madness?”


    “I…I-I don’t know…but I know you’ll keep me safe…you’re a heroine!” Aryana tried to unsuccessfully lift the mood, “I mean! You did come to save me! And you did!”


    “What are you on?!” Sophie snapped back, the bitterness in her voice sending the girl in front of her curling up into a ball, “A heroine? If only I could be a heroine.” She sneered, “I saved you because you were my responsibility, my charge that I brought along.”


    “I…I’m just a responsibility?” Aryana asked, tears welling up in her eyes.


    “Of course! I mean, it wouldn’t be fair to leave you to the tribes but you said you wanted to explore that world, not die in it. How the hells can you do that if you stick with us? We practically wander into the jaws of the hells themselves unintentionally. There’s no way anyone can keep up and still protect another.” Sophie ranted.


    “I...so I am a burden?”


    “Yes! I mean no! But-”


    “Oh.” Aryana froze, and Sophie too stopped mid sentence and watched the girl’s eyes glisten with tears, the fragile soul broken at the sudden confrontation, “I-I’m sorry.” Aryana sniffled.


    “I-”


    “Sorry…I’m sorry…just please…don’t leave. I-I don’t want to be alone again, I-I-I’ll do anything. Please. The world is scary, the orcs are scary, I don’t like getting hurt. There was so much pain, so much death, and blood and…and… Everything is scary and dark. Please don’t leave me alone.” Aryana cried, her hand feebly tugging on Sophie’s sleeve.


    For a few minutes, Sophie just sat, her mind blank and despondent as the girl continued to cry, the tears turning into dry sobs as the seconds passed by. Eventually she stood up and Aryana looked on the verge of shattering completely, finally abandoned. Sophie sighed and adjusted her cuirass and tightened her belt, making sure the sword now firmly inside its sheathe.


    “I…I’m…” Aryana began but stopped, defeated.


    Choking back her own emotions, she held out a hand to help Aryana up, the girl looking terrified and confused in equal measure.


    “I’m no heroine, I don’t think. I’ve done things I’m…less than proud of.” Sophie began, staring wistfully upwards, hoping that Riza too could hear her apology, “But…” Sophie faltered, the words barely pushing out of her mouth, “You see me as this warrior of justice, leaping headfirst into combat, right?” She didn’t look down but she could hear the nod. “But I’m not, I’m no warrior, no heroine, no fuck all. I’m just a maid,” She chuckled, “just a maid who barely knew anything about four months ago. Fuck…it’s only been four months…”


    “S-sorry?”


    “What I’m trying to say…is that…I don’t know what I’m trying to say. I''m new to this...everything. I was like you, no idea of what the world was like too.” Reluctantly she turned to look at the confused redhead, her gaze focused solely on the green orbs looking back at her.


    “You’re…not…leaving?”


    “No…no I guess I’m not leaving you behind. Not that I ever was.” Sophei sighed, “I just…I just see myself in you, when I was thrown out into the Mistveil and…look, are you coming with or what?” Sophie wiggled her hand impatiently.


    Frightened, Aryana gently grabbed it only for Sophie to quickly pull her up, taking great pains to hide how she winced at the physical contact.


    “Aryana.”


    “Y-yes?” The girl stammered nervously.


    “I want to protect you and I will protect you, okay? With Astralis as my witness, that much I vow. After all, I''m the flame keeper or whatever those weird druids called me." She giggled, "But in turn I need you to do something for me too.”


    Aryana nodded vigorously, a faint glimmer of hope rising within her.


    “I need you to promise, promise me. That you won’t become me, won’t turn into a monster.”


    “Huh? I mean sure? But you’re not a-”


    “Promise me.”


    “Uhhh…umm I-I promise.”


    “Thank you.” Sophie whispered before gesturing towards the bored warhorse, “Now, I…I think there’ll be more time to talk on the road.”


    Aryana nodded, her hands dabbing away at what moisture was left on her face. Sophie just had to pretend she didn’t feel a little elated at the smile that slowly crept onto the redhead’s face. By the Gods, grant me the strength to keep her innocence safe.