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Saora's Benediction 21

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      She'd lost count of how many spirits passed safely into the Light. This was, however, the seventh time she'd had to retie her ponytail. Grunting with frustration, she stuck Benediction in the ground next to her and yanked the loosened pieces of hair out of her face. The only thing between Saora and saving what was left of her hometown was her hairdo. Figures. She casually tossed a cure to a woman's ghost that trailed green as she passed. As the cure hit, the spirit screamed in agony. She fell face first to the dirt. Just before she faded to a green mist, Saora saw the arrow that poked from her back.

      The hills to the north shifted. At first, Saora thought the trees had come to life. As the masses advanced, she picked out details like banners of blues and blacks, armor darker than night, and massive bows made of bone. Scourge archers. They powered down the hills, trampling any spirit in their path and firing at those in the distance. The rain of arrows cast a deathly shade over Saora. The spirits screamed.

      Saora dropped her hair, grabbing at the legendary staff. Tossing brown locks out of her furious eyes, she extended Benediction and made a sweeping motion. The staff's red gem left a garnet trail that expanded and lifted to meet the arrows. They bounced off harmlessly. The shield soared at the Scourge. Skeletons roared at the spell, blue magic whisping from their mouths until the shield knocked their skulls from their spines.

      "RUN!" Saora yelled, a healing spell bursting from the staff to save a man with three arrows in his back. The ghosts screamed louder. Their echoing voices bounced through the fog as the priestess glanced back to the mountains. There were still hordes of zombies and skeletons racing from the hills. They were fast, really fast. It wouldn't be long before they'd overtake the ghosts. They didn't stand a chance.

      Her arms tingled with rage and power. The skeletons charged closer, oblivious to the light emanating from the small priestess. Saora growled, a purifying spell ridding a faded child of the plague. There was no fear, no worry. Her blood boiled, burning her cheeks and twisting her stomach. These monsters wouldn't hurt her people again.

      A group of Scourge broke ahead of the rest of the pack. Saora felt the light growing inside her. One of the skeletons swung his bow back, his gleaming eyes aimed right at her. The priestess flung her arm overhead and released the pent up energy. Light burst in a dome around her. The few ghosts that ran through cheered and hurried to the road, their wounds healed. The Scourge, on the other hand, screamed in agony. Just like in Rivendare's room, they tore at their bubbling skin before quickly exploding into clouds of dust. Whooping in triumph, Saora fired off another Light spell. It disintegrated another troop before they could reach her.

      Eris appeared beside the priestess, "Look! They're retreating!" Sure enough, the Scourge troops were slowly backing away, growling at the sudden and impressive resistance. A few tried their bone arrows but those bounce away harmlessly. Saora glanced behind her to see Eris finish casting her own shield spell. Saora threw back her head and laughed. They'd done it! The peasants would be saved after all! With a sudden roar she raised the staff and charged.

      Thunder snapped overhead. Black clouds appeared in a blink, looming eerily low. The remaining spirits moaned and fell to their hands and knees. Skeletons and zombies froze, their red eyes still locked on the priestess. Saora slowed to a halt. Her hair stood on end. Something was very wrong.

      Black lightning cracked the ground between Saora and the Scourge. Ear-splitting thunder erupted. Before the noise could end, the lighting expanded. Muscular arms and legs formed. A pair of horns burst from a solidified head. The creature opened its yellow eyes and stretched its massive, leathery wings.

      "Demon!" Eris breathed.

      The demon snarled, "I am the Cleaner. Who dares interfere with this being's test?"

      "Test?" Saora blinked, "I'm being tested?"

      "Saora, listen to me--"

      "Eris, do you know him?"

      "Saora, protect the staff. Free the spirits."

      "Who's testing me? Why?"

      "LISTEN!" Eris grabbed Saora's shoulders and shook her. "No matter what happens, you must not help me and you must not attack the demon."

      Saora's eyes widened, "You're not going to--"

      "You have such strength," the ghost lightly touched her former student's cheek. "Trust in the Light and know I will always be watching over you."

      "Eris..."

      Wind shoved the priestesses. Saora used her robe to block the decay flying around her. She peeked through the dust and debris to see the Cleaner flapping his giant wings.

      "Again," his voice thundered, "who dares interfere?"

      Eris's form shimmered, "I do."

      The Cleaner's eyes narrowed, "This battle must be fought alone! You know this, Keeper!"

      "This is no mere test, demon! There is more at stake!"

      "Entrusting a mortal with such an artifact was a mistake. See the pain your failure caused! See what lives you did forsake!"

      "Saora Avalie will not make those mistakes--"

      "Enough!" the Cleaner bellowed.

      Purple and black energy shot from his body like small lightning bolts. Spirits and Scourge unlucky enough to be in the path of the energy exploded in puffs of mist and dust. Eris managed to shield herself from three bolts aimed at her heart. She whispered a prayer and pointed to the heavens. A flash of light danced in the clouds. Following the woman's gesture, the Light soared through the clouds and slammed into the Cleaner. His black skin burst into white flames. Instead of screaming or flailing, the demon glanced at the fires trying to burn his flesh. He snarled, yellow fangs gleaming, and faced the ghost.

      "Eris Havenfire, former Keeper of Benediction," his enormous wings flared, "you have interrupted the test of this mortal! You will pay for this interference."
      Still burning with the blessed fire, the Cleaner took two giant strides. His hand, double the size of any Tauren, wrapped around the ghost and snatched her into the air. Saora screamed. She pointed the staff at the demon, ready to unleash its power.

      The Cleaner held his other massive hand out in warning, "Your predecessor has faith in you, mortal. Her past deeds and those of other Benediction Keepers are all that give me pause. Rethink your actions."

      "Saora!" Eris managed to pry a hand free and pointed at the cowering spirits, "The villagers! Get them to the Light!"

      "Saora Avalie, your test continues. Prove you are worthy of such a blessing. Become the Keeper of Benediction."

      The Cleaner's wings closed around him and his captive. Thunder tore through the dust and, with a flash of black light, the two were gone.

      "NO!" Saora ran to the burns left behind, desperate to catch them. A shard of broken metal winked in the dim light and plowed through her shoulder. The priestess cried out in pain, only now seeing the skeletal warrior in arm's length. He was moving again, as were his Scourge companions. Bleeding and terrified, Saora scrambled away from the awakened Scourge. They smelled her fear and followed hungrily.

      She stumbled to the ground, weakened from loss of blood and the loss of her mentor. A peasant's spirit screamed as an arrow passed through his faded body. She couldn't do this. How could she have believed she could? It was over. The warrior raised his broken axe.

      The red gem in Benediction gleamed. Its faint light bounced off the warrior's bones, drawing his attention for a brief moment. That was all Saora needed. With her remaining strength, she closed her eyes and swung the golden staff. Her eyes opened in time to see her attacker's skull bounce away. She smirked and brushed a healing spell over her wound. These monsters wouldn't take her without a fight.
Chapter 21 of gina-su's World of Warcraft toon Saora

This chapter took me more than a month to finish. Just couldn't shove through it. When I finally did, I loved it. The Cleaner was the perfect touch. He allowed me to not write a good-bye scene for Saora and Eris, something I was really dreading.

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