XX. Fynn skipped across the rooftops of the houses of Morroc, tracking the source of the Doorspawn. The ongoing carnage in the streets below led him on. The shadowy monsters were multiplying in number, and diversity: aside from the scythe-armed humanoids he fought earlier, there were also huge four-legged monstrosities that gored through the crowd with black tusks. He kept to the rooftops; this was the only way he could cover ground faster.
People were dying below him. But he couldn't stop and aid them. There were just too many monsters and too many people in the streets. The Sword of Valor better handle those monsters; that's what they're here for anyway. He would concentrate on the mystery of the Door itself.
As he leaped across a narrow alley, there was a sudden flare of crimson light from below, followed by the piercing shout of someone unleashing spirit power.
He glanced down, in mid-air--
--saw the scene at the bottom of the alley: a lone knight was thrusting her blade through a huge Doorspawn beast. Behind the knight was a second monster, poised to strike. His eyes widened; the knight wasn't aware of her back--
--and then he hit the opposite rooftop--thankfully a flat one. Still, he stumbled, rolling across the roof. He got to his feet and crawled back to peer at the alley below.
The knight's Magnum Break had ignited the rubbish piled along one side of the alley, and the alley stood out in the flickering firelight. He saw one of the monsters puff out in smoke, apparently slain, but the unseen monster now struck with its blunt forelimbs, hurling the knight almost fifteen feet to the far end of the alley. The knight sprawled across empty crates, his helm thrown off.
Her helm, Fynn corrected himself mentally, for he can now see the long platinum tresses and delicate features of the female knight.
The Doorspawn began to lumber heavily towards the woman, who was now crouching and looking around for her bastard sword. Fynn saw the blade, lying in the midst of the burning rubbish. But the monster was between her and her weapon.
"Damn it," he muttered, then gripped the side of the roof and launched himself into the air. He landed on his feet in a crouch. He reached into the fire and pulled the bastard sword out. The monster was nearly upon the unarmed knight.
With his other hand, he picked up a stone from the ground and threw it at the Doorspawn's head. These extraplanar monsters seemed to share the same vital points as more natural monsters, and he hoped this one would be no exception. The stone flew in an arc, and the monster collapsed, stunned.
"Here, lady knight!"
The knight caught the thrown sword with one gauntleted hand. She stood up into her fighting stance.
"My thanks, whoever you are," she saluted over the monster's prone form at Fynn. "You can run along now. I'll be fine."
The monster started to stir, raising itself up on its huge arms. It rumbled, as it rose, blocking Fynn's view of the knight.
"Are you sure?" Fynn asked, fingering the worn handles of his katars. "This one looks quite strong."
"I don't care," the knight said curtly. "I'll bring it down."
Fynn was about to climb back up to the roof when he heard the knight: I don't care. He stopped. Something about the way she said those three words nagged at him. Someone said the same thing to him two years ago--a lifetime ago--and with very much the same tone. She had the same platinum hair, too.
The monster nearly filled the alley and was almost ten feet tall; Fynn couldn't see the knight's face clearly.
The knight charged at the Doorspawn, once more sliding her blade along the walls, building up the heat for another Magnum Break. Fynn held up his hand instinctively as the flaming shockwave impacted upon the giant monster.
The monster stood its ground, not minding the flames now licking along its bulk. It reached out a huge hand and caught the knight's head, lifting her up in the air. Its other hand pulled back.
Fynn ran at the monster's back, whipping out his katars in either hand. As he came within a few feet, he leaped and bounced off the wall, propelling himself at the monster, his katars held crossed before him. He felt the twin blades bite and dig into the monster's tough skin, severing both flesh and bone. The monster roared, an unearthly sound that shattered the night. The knight fell back to the ground, choking, throwing off the monster's severed appendage.
He dragged the knight up and out of reach of the Doorspawn's remaining fist. She shrugged his hold on her arm, and brandished the bastard sword. And charged the maimed monster again.
Fynn sighed. He somersaulted behind the monster and spun around, slashing at the monster's back just as the knight's bastard sword clove through the monster's shoulders, nearly severing torso.
Emitting one final roar, the Doorspawn dissipated.
He put his katars away, and regarded the knight closely. His eyes widened behind the mask he wore. "You're...Venris Dastonia."
The knight jerked stiffly as she wore her helm back on. "You...must be mistaken," she replied with a scoff. "My name's Sevrin Astergarden. Currently serving under Commander Valcrist of the Sword of Valor."
Fynn didn't know what to say. But it is her. She's just like the way he remembered her. Except for the armor. Unconsciously, he pulled back into the shadows. He still wore the phantom mask; she won't recognize him.
"I'm Fynn Elenium of the Temple Assassins. I've been assigned to work with your company."
"Uhuh. Well, then. I've got to find the Door," she said, pushing past him towards the alley mouth.
"It's near here," he called out at Sevrin's back. "I've been tracking it as well. You want to travel together?"
She stopped, turned towards him. "I can handle myself, Fynn Elenium."
"I didn't say you can't," was his quick reply. "Come on, we're on the same side."
She scowled at him, but finally nodded grudgingly.
"It's further north," he said.
As they made their way through the blood-soaked streets of a monster-infested Morroc, Fynn thought of only one thing.
