Eyes that bled grief part 9

The following is an original short story and I will upload parts of it as I write it. Enjoy!

(Warning for violence and adult themes. Material for readers over 18years old).

C.T.K.

Ch.9: Traveler

As soon as Mainda stepped out of the airport she buttoned her winter coat up to her chin and brought her hood down. She liked the cold weather, but certainly not to that extend. She made her way from the airport down to the main city of Kardla, enjoying the view of the scenery and the houses around her. After checking in the hotel she was going to stay for two nights, before taking the flight back home. The city, as well as the entire island, had a number of tourists, strolling around, enjoying the midday sun, and Mainda was one of them. She may be there for a mission, but she planned on enjoying her time as well. It was the only way she could keep the anxiety away.

Mainda used public transportation to get to the suburbs of the city and kept on walking and walking, till the sun was set and night fell over the island of Hiiumaa. The tree trunks were soon surrounded by thick mist and the woman had to brace herself in order to handle the penetrating cold of the woods. She mumbled to herself about how ridiculous it was that the manifestation had crawled out there. In the mission details, master Saika mentioned how it had been existing for a few years and moving from location to location in this island, picking up negative emotions gradually and increasing in size. After ten years of existing, it became too big to be ignored.

Her thought process stopped, when the uneasy sensation of a manifestation near her took over, forcing a shiver down her spine. The blood coursing in her veins pulsated eagerly, looking forward for the fight to come. Mainda jumped to the side, barely escaping a thorn that protruded from the main body of the manifestation. She couldn’t yet see it clearly, but it had located her. The female gritted her teeth and began running in a circular motion, getting closer to the main body and jumping and ducking to avoid the instantaneously created thorns of black matter. Her blue eyes darted around, as she tried to make sense of the size of the manifestation. It took up the entire clearing and stood five meters tall, its main body hadn’t yet taken a proper shape, and merely stood there like a blob, expanding thorns towards her. Mainda was in the verge of panicking, since she had never seen a manifestation of that size. Yet she pressed on, knowing well that every mission she took up had to be completed. She brought her hand to her lips and bit down in her palm, ripping skin and drawing blood. The crimson fluid run out her veins and formed her blade. This time Mainda didn’t flinch, she was getting used to the sensation.

She dashed towards the manifestation and held the blade to the side. She run around it, drawing the blade on its dark surface, cutting open a huge part from its base. She jumped back to look at her handiwork, the screams of the manifestation making her head throb in dissatisfaction. The manifestation didn’t seem to reduce in size, but somehow became even larger than before.

Mainda cursed under her breath and managed to raise a wall with her mind just before a mass of manifested roots came for her. She gritted her teeth as the roots came down on the invisible wall again and again. The black-haired female was in the verge of panicking, when she felt her body getting yanked from behind, a strong arm gripping on her shoulder and dragging her away. She averted her eyes from the manifestation and glanced back to see the person who had just taken her out of the tough spot with incredible speed.

A humanoid creature, covered in crimson, hard armor was looking forward while carrying her like a sack of potatoes. She wanted to fight back, but felt no malice from this creature. Its speed was inhumane, even more than the speed she had developed during her training. Soon enough it stopped and dropped her on the ground with a thud. She groaned in complaint and got up on her feet, only to be met with a pair of bright blue eyes behind the crimson featureless mask that covered the entire head and left only a few black strands of hair escape. The creature, which was tall and had male body characteristics, was also covered around the chest, arms, legs and feet, wearing a full body, armor in the color of very dark red.

‘’Who are you and what is your purpose here?’’, the male’s voice sounded muffled behind the mask and Mainda had to narrow her eyes, as if that could make her ears hear better.

‘’I was going to ask you the same thing.’’, she answered and gripped on her crooked blade’s hilt even harder. ‘’Can you remove that freaking mask while you are at it?’’, she added and was answered with a chuckle.

‘’Koro, what the hell…’’, another male voice was heard, as another man with the same type of armor walked near them. The sound of the name brought the woman chills. It was the name of her late brother. She had to force all other thoughts away and focus on the two strangers who stood in her way, not letting her complete the mission. The blue eyed male glared at his partner and Mainda could sense rage in his stance.

‘’Who is this woman?’’, the other one asked, his grey eyes focused on her. She had a hard time facing two males with odd powers, who also hid their faces. There was no way of realizing their intentions. She sighed in exasperation, surprised with her own self for not fearing the strangers.

‘’I am wondering who you are as well. You are the ones hiding your faces.’’, she commented and the male with the gray eyes brought his hand over the smooth surface of the crimson mask. He gripped on it and removed it, revealing a head of blonde short hair and his very handsome facial features with sharp jawline. He looked like a descendant of Vikings. He lifted his brow to her and took a step near forward, making her realize his impressive stature.

‘’You don’t suppose this is the one master Saika sent?’’, he spoke, obviously talking to his shorter and more slender partner, the one who had carried the female away from the manifestation.

‘’Yes I am.’’, Mainda answered and narrowed her eyes further, wondering how these men knew Saika. The blonde one scoffed and glanced back at his partner.

‘’I don’t see how this girl is of any help.’’, the male spoke again and his partner shrugged his shoulders. The female felt her blood boiling in her veins.

‘’Hey! I’m right here!’’, she yelled at them and stepped between them. The Viking like male lifted his brows in genuine surprise. ‘’Master Saika sent me here to get rid of the manifestation. Are you master Ikrov’s followers?’’, she questioned them, remembering her own master’s warnings. The still masked one chuckled.

‘’Yes we are and that manifestation is our mission.’’, he commented and Mainda sighed.

‘’Take it for all I care, but I wonder why our masters sent us after the same creature.’’, the female commented.

‘’Who cares, let’s go.’’, the masked one added indifferently and his partner wore his mask once more. Mainda couldn’t help but wonder what their deal was with the armor and noted it down to ask master Saika as soon as she got back.

The males nearly disappeared from her eyes with their speed, but the woman pressed on, running behind them. There had to be a reason her master had sent her here and she was planning to find out.