Memoirs of Adventure Creative Writing Contest (NA) - Official Entry Thread

[Zaikyu]

The war in Ala Mhigo had been grueling and brutal from the start. I was still new to these lands, but I had risen through the ranks quickly and proven myself in battle after battle. My shield was battered and beaten, the beads of sweat across my brow were dark with the grime of this conflict, and my blade glistened crimson with the blood of the garlean soldiers who had stood in my path. There was nothing that would stop me from getting to him now. He who had done so much damage. He who had hurt so many. He who would be stopped this day. “Zenos!” I shouted at the top of my lungs, my voice echoing across the Ghimlyt. I wanted him to know I was coming.

I remember facing him for the first time in Rhalgr’s Reach. I swore then he wasn’t human. Little did I know then how true that would come to be. He was like no enemy I had faced before. He seemed impossible to hurt and the strength in his sword swings was like getting struck by one of the many primals I had faced, maybe even more so. I remember the rage I felt when he struck down Y’shtola. I was to hurt to be able to do anything about it, which only stoked the fire burning within me. I would have vengeance.

The ringing of metal against metal brings me back into the moment as another garlean bullet ricochets off my shield. “On your left!” The dragoon calls out as two more garleans join the fray. They bring their swords to bear against my shield as I dig into the dark soil to hold them at bay. I can feel the sudden rush of heat against my face as a fiery explosion from behind them immolates them both. I glance over my shoulder as the black mage gives me a nod from beneath the brim of his hood. Just then a suit of magitek armor bursts forth from debris in front of us and takes aim. I leap in front of our white mage and bring my shield up, digging my heels into the dirt as the magitek beam blasts forth. It takes everything I have to hold on as the beam forces me back, my heels digging small trenches in the blood-soaked earth. The little lalafell that had been tending to our wounds huddled behind me as I bared the brunt of the attack. Unfortunately for the pilot of the magitek armor, he didn’t see the dragoon leaping through the air from behind him and bringing his spear down into the back of his neck. As the beam abated, I took a moment to catch my breath as my small friend healed me up. The migo’te who had been showering our enemies with the elements gazed out at the battlefield ahead. “Zenos has spared no expense on this battle.” My fellow Au Ra, the man with the spear laughed a little at her observation. “Me thinks he may be a coward deep down. He hides behind an army when he used to fight his own battles.” I finally stand and give them both a terse nod. “He may yet realize that his time has come. Let’s not disappoint him.”

Shortly after this I finally faced Zenos, but that is a story for another time.

(That and I ran out of words!)
(If I win I would like the Scarf of Wondrous Wit)