Meaningless End

1

C'vrylil breathed out slowly, wielding his weapon tightly. His black hair swayed with the breeze that brought a wave of euphoric calmness from the lively forest behind him, clashing with the beast controlled by Calamity before him. It tugged at his cape, making the soft blue cloth lazily roll with the wind, softly rippling. He wore pure white, the seams of his uniform the same innocent sky blue. His chest bolstered a brandished marking on it, the Mother Goddess represented on his enchanted shirt.

He fought for her, as well as for the people faithful to her, letting the Goddess guide him, under her protection as long as he lived by her name. Her name was Evisinthia, her light blessing him as he called upon her name. That is her gift to the paladin, as long as he followed her obediently, as long as he did not stray from her path.

The paladin was not alone, accompanied by his companion, the only comrade that he fought beside. Iskalitz, although not a knight guided by the Mother Goddess, was a pyromancer, skilled with the ability to summon and manipulate flames. He was the dark haired paladin's childhood friend, steadfastly sticking by his side in their early adulthood.

"How are you holding up, C'vrylil?" His words seemed to have a reverb to it as he casted a spell, barely focusing on his task at hand. His scarlet hair danced with the heat waves surging around him from his magic. Flames dusted the air, floating around his body as he held out a hand for one of the flames, the red light settling in his palm.

"Not bad. This one isn't putting up much of a fight."

Iskalitz cockily smirked as the enlarged flame left his hand, sending it at the corrupted beast while the little lights twined around him. His ruby eyes sparkled with the shimmering glow coming from the flickering sparks floating through the air, the magical embers rising up.

The turbulent target was originally an Valryn, a combination of bird and panther. Its head was like a raven's, including the beak, but it had black ears and catlike eyes. Massive wings protruded from the back, causing small whirlwinds with each downstroke, and it had long tail feathers that swayed back and forth. The back legs were regular bird talons, the forefront being feline. Valryns, despite being vicious due to their commonly wild nature, were usually passive.

But this one emitted darkness, shadows rising from its body proof of the Calamity that now dominated it. Its head was bent at an unnatural angle, showing how it died. A wing was torn, broken at the shoulder blade where it loosely dangled, brushing the ground lifelessly. Like most swallowed by Calamity, the colors was darkened. Where the animals normally were different colors ranging from grey to brown, this one was completely charcoal black. Red patterns came from the wounds that killed it, covering its neck, fading out around its chest and head.

When something is killed by a Calamity One, it becomes corrupted, the corruption rising from its body. They turn into a puppet of the Calamity, as long as the body remained intact enough.

C'vrylil closed his eyes, his lashes fluttering shut over his auburn eyes as he called upon the Goddess, praying for her power to aid his strike and purify the lost being before him. His head tilted back, his pale skin bathed in light as he prayed, his voice soft as he voiced the words inviting her holy magic to guide his sword and body.

He wanted to feel rage, but could not, resisting the pervasion of dark emotions. Darkness must not sway a holy vessel, or he will lose his gift from Evisinthia, and become blind to her blessings. Nevertheless, he still felt a twinge of remorse pulling at him.

The shadows reminded him of the past, the day he became orphaned as he watched his parents die. They were both valiant knights, fighting hard for everyone around them, to keep them safe. To keep their nine year old son safe.

There had been a war going on, and a Calamity One forced its way into the house, easily breaking the door into splinters. Larger than any of the corrupt entities he had ever seen, armor covered it, increasing the intimidating appearance. His parents had stood in between him and the evil being, protecting the young boy.

Before his eyes, he watched, paralyzed as they got tore in half by the brutish monstrosity, the blood staining his world red. C'vrylil was paralyzed, frozen when it advanced. He was sure the same fate would befall him when another Calamity One appeared. "Leave him. We will come back for him later." He was smaller but still wore armor with dark pigmentations. "He has intriguing eyes..."

He was found by Iskalitz's father, whom brought the shattered boy home with him. He was adopted and raised by the family of mages, encouraged when he decided to become a paladin brandishing white and blue.

Pushing the memories back, he focused on praying and praising, feeling the energy coursing through his pure body and into his Blade of Light. His eyes opened slowly, revealing blue eyes that seemed to glow.

"By the name of the Mother Goddess, Evisinthia, I purge you of all evil." Moving quickly, he stabbed the illuminated blade deep into the chest of the undead beast, twisting it to try making it go deeper. A deep scarlet flowed freely as he pulled back, the pure light leaving from his weapon into the now fallen Valryn. Pity ran through him as he stepped back, knowing how prideful the species were, how turning into an undead creature is dishonorable for any species.

"It's down... Stubborn thing didn't want to go." Iskalitz huffed, running a hand through his hair as he stood next to the paladin. An eyebrow was arched as he stared down at the remains, his other hand on his hip.

"Yeah..." C'vrylil gazed at the fallen half-bird before turning away, his eyes lowered to focus on his sword. The weapon had a beaded white chord coming from the end of the handle, wrapped loosely around his wrist. As he focused, his sword turned into a cross in his hands. He held tightly to the rosary, before glancing up at the mage.

The redhead had been staring at him, and still was, observing the moment that his eyes returned to being a dark shade of amber. "You know... You still are the only paladin whose eyes aren't blue." He stepped closer, smiling as he reached a hand out, ruffling the smaller male's hair. "It's disappointing that the beast went down so easily. I like watching you dance."

That was how the mage always described his fighting, saying it was like he elegantly danced as he wielded his sword, moving swiftly with grace. C'vrylil could admit, he was quick on his feet, and good at fighting, but that was because he trained so hard. Because he also refused to wear any clunky armour, not wanting to lose any agility, so he was one of the few knights who wore a robe.

C'vrylil couldn't understand why he saw it like that. Fighting was simply fighting, even if one was rather talented. He wasn't like a dancer, didn't even know the first thing about dancing. His faith guided his movements, his strikes and his victories.

"Either way, your eyes are still so... Intriguing. No matter what, you appear sharp, I guess."

What was he going on about now?

"I see..." He turned his head, sighing. Even though the redhead mage was his only and closest friend, he didn't want to get too close. Anything could happen, including a Calamity attack. "We should go back..." His voice was a low murmur as he walked by the mage, tired from the fight, and negative thoughts of losing his friend passing through his wornout mind.