The Reckoning

1356 At the base of Fjialltindr

The pleasant smell of fir, the sparkling snow atop decades-old roads, the peace of the mountain. A quiet village stood amidst the scenery. The houses were few and far apart, and people were simple, living off hunting and lumbering.

The sun hid behind the trees as a man walked home carrying firewood on his shoulders. His face showed early signs of age and gave away no expression.

(It will be another hard winter), he said to himself as he paced through the fresh snow.

He could see his home, his wife waiting outside. The man sighed in relief as he drew near. Something was off.

-Sigmund! she called. Sigmund gods help us! Your daughter!

The woman’s voice was both frightened and desperate. Sigmund dropped the firewood and rushed to the woman.

-Alya! What happened? Where’s Aicha?

The woman pointed to the small house with shaky hands. Sigmund let go of his wife and stepped inside, ax in hand. As the door opened and the dim light found a way into the house Sigmund saw it. Saw his daughter covered in blood, not hers.

-I am sorry... she whimpered on the verge of tears, I was so hungry.

The corpse of a dog laid next to the girl who was clutching her knees. Her silver long hair and sharp teeth reflected the light to her frozen down father.

The poor girl was cursed before birth by powerful beings of the forest with no one knowing. After they carried a witch hunt trough years ago the few remain creatures to possess magic gathered and formed the prophecy of the reckoning, so that one day it will doom the village for their sins against their kind.

The people of the village were deeply devoted to the gods. The entire family would burn on the pyre if they found out Aicha was a dreyri, a creature that fed on blood.

-Dad...?

-Run away... and don’t come back.

The girl’s face seemed puzzled as she looked at her father in the eyes

-RUN I SAID!

The startled girl scrambled to her feet and darted past her father, looking at her mother’s face for one last time before disappearing into the forest.

8 days later

Aicha collapsed into the cold snow. Her clothes were nowhere near enough to keep her warm. She had eaten nothing apart from snow for days.

-Why me? She sobbed, what did I do to deserve this?

The girl closed her eyes, waiting for it to end. Everything was fading.

It was like a dream. The smell of stew and the warmth of a blanket over her.

-Mom? Dad? She muttered.

She could hear a voice from across the room

-Don’t push yourself

With an effort, Aicha stood up on the side of the bed. An old man was stirring some food in a big pot. Aicha was no longer feeling the thirst for blood, but only hunger.

-It’s almost ready, said the old man, be still.

He looked old, very old, with a long beard and skinny arms. He wore robes that brushed the floor as he was walking towards Aicha with a wooden bowl full of stew. Aicha started eating as soon as the men laid the bowl in front of her, burning her tongue and throat as the food passed to her empty stomach.

-Poor girl, said the old man, I am Siguil. Shout if you want another. My hearing is shabby.

After Aicha finished eating, she thanked the old man and introduced herself.

-I am grateful for the food Mr. Siguil but I have to go.

-Do you? said Siguil, pretending to be surprised. I can show you back to the pile of snow where I found you hehe, he let out a withered laugh.

-I have to! I am trouble, said Aicha as she looked away.

-You don’t have to hide from me little dreyri, I was the one to give you blood while you slept.

Aicha went pale.

-How did you...

-You see, I am a druid, last of my kind. I was taken in by the forest dwellers after being exiled from the academy of Palestone for some... slightly forbidden magic. Let’s just say I know a thing or two about curses.

-Then why help something like me? I could hurt you.

-Do you want to hurt me? said Siguil with a smile.

-No, but...

-Then you can stay here as much as you please.

Days later the Siguil discovered a significant magic source living in Aicha’s curse. She kept it contained, and the magic kept growing inside her. He taught her how to control it, how to calm animals with it, how to grow plants with it and many other small uses. The curse was nothing to worry about since it could be easily sated with animal blood. What worried Siguil is the moment Aicha will find out about all of her power.

Months passed, and the two learned to live with each other, Siguil becoming the father figure Aicha needed. He gave her most of his knowledge during this time and in exchange Aicha helped him with the tasks that would mean trouble for his age.

More then a year passed since Siguil took Aicha under his wing.

-Aicha! Are you dozing off?

-No...No, I was listening. You were telling me about the potency of phyroot in ointments.

Siguil let out a sight.

-Why don’t you go gather a few for me, hmm? I would go myself, but my back has seen better days.

Aicha stood up without saying a word. She knew there was no point in complaining about it. (better than listening to medicine recipes) she taught.

The morning air of the spring filled Aicha’s lungs as she strolled on her usual route. Nature showed signs of rebirth as Aicha was foraging through the forest. A little critter caught the girl’s eye. Her senses were inhuman when she was hungry.

(why not have some fun while at it) she taught.

She did not use magic on the rabbit to calm it down, but instead she scared it away. Now the hunt began. Aicha let go of the basket and with inhuman speed chased the poor animal. With a leap she caught the rabbit and sunk her sharp fangs in it. She fed on her pray with delight. Not paying attention to her surroundings. Not paying attention to the aghast hunter that was watching her.

Aicha was heading back home late after having fun all day, picking up all sorts of roots and plants, looking forward to her favorite tea. Suddenly she could smell smoke. She dropped the basket, her face reflecting the horror in front of her. The little house in the forest, Siguil tied to a pole, all ablaze.

She knew... She knew who had done this. Rage darkened her mind. Her thirst for blood was back and worse than before. Magic was pouring out of her being uncontrollable. The magic Siguil never told her about. Dark green clouds surrounded her, giving life to the nature around her. In the blink of an eye she dashed through the forest, either running on the ground or leaping from tree to tree. Before she knew it she was back in her village. The clouds followed her, this time not giving life but instead taking it away painfully and decaying any human-made structure in the village as Aicha was tearing trough every man, woman, and child that crossed her path.

The reaping was done. Aicha came to her senses as the clouds dispersed to reveal the horror of the once beautiful village. She looked at the blood on her clothes and hands. It no longer bothered her. She paced along the decades-old roads that are now covered in blood. She hated it...Hated the way people treat her kind.

It was time for the reckoning.