>>6051948Your sword pierces flesh and darkness. Black steam hisses through the monster’s pores as you thrust your sword inside his chest, embedding your blade deep into the cursed flesh, and the letting the flower bloom. The flower that Ansàrra lies at the feet of the fallen for Her cause, the flower that celebrates the virtues of Saint Bragia.
The flower that bursts through the hulking monster’s body, tearing it off at the seams — you feel the pressure push your sword out and you recoil, falling to your knees, while with another burst of burning air and the reek of searing skin the brute burns from the inside, just like it happened to the Malostromo.
It tilts back and ruins on the stone pavement, its arms open and its face slack as the light devours him from the innards to the meat layers until it bursts through the skin, making it curl and broil like parchment. It keeps burning even while you take a few steps back, getting away from the smoke.
The corpse starts to glow with a golden-red brightness that contrasts that of the sheer candle-men; they take stapes back, stumbling upon each other, trying to get away from the light of Ansàrra.
“Annf.” You pant, the sword falling from your arms with a tinkling sound. You do not pick it up. Now that the deed is done, weariness and pain rise once again in your chest. You grip right at it, feeling the cameo pushing against your palm, the etched face of Saint Bragia on your skin. “Sora—Soralisa…” you mutter. “Thank you, S-Sun Birther…”
You fall as well. On one knee, then another. Black blood seeps through your chest, it makes your clothing stick to your skin, damp and rotten. The chill is back. You look at the flames, which are starting to fade, the memory of summer, dry earth and the sweet smell of fresh grapes and ripe wort—
“Sali… cera,” you mutter, looking at the spot where the shattered pieces of her body used to be. Then the pain and the cold grow too much, and all you can do is look up at the infinite darkness, while the waning light keeps you company for but a little while more.
For… just a little more.
For—
[cont.]
