Tether Of The Soul

‘Amber. Please tell me that you live still?’ Berath hesitantly placed a hoof onto Amber’s cheek. ‘Why is it that everyone I have ever loved or cared for, why are they punished for my contraventions? Who have I offended this time by merely drawing breath? I am ever so drained by these laws that are hidden from me… What more must you skin from my dying will? You have taken my life, my betrothed wife, my frail son, and now you take my only friend! You have transgressed against me for far too long! I will kill every last one of you who claim the title of God and Demon alike! Panthiazma, the goddess of the universe! You will watch me this day, for I vow to you what is left of my will, my testament, and my soul, to your celestial embrace!’

He cried out as he stared deep into Amber’s frozen eyes before he kissed Amber’s forehead. ‘Where are you, my friend?’ Slow gasps began to become audible for Berath as did an image. The image depicted Amber’s head hanging from the side of his neck. The neck looked like a bear had ravaged it. Torn pieces of flesh hung from the wound like party streamers that jiggled from what was attacking the rest of Amber’s body. Berath had to close his eyes from the sight of his friend being mauled by an animal that cared not for the carcass that it devoured. ‘I am so sorry Amber, I don’t know where you lay… Oh sweet morning dew, I feel so powerless, so small.’ He sobbed when he opened his eyes again. ‘Dee-per… Tar-tar-us.’ Rasped a faint voice in Beraths mind ‘Dig… Do-wn. Ple-as-e… Hel-p me.’

Berath nodded ‘I bid you strength, Amber. Defy the beast that consumes you!’ He stood up and as he did so, he extended a foreleg out in front of himself ‘Panthiazma, I beseech you. Grant me strength in my time of need… Grant me, Zestateth!’ A few moments pass and silence ‘Panthiazam, grant me Zestateth!’ Silence yet again ‘Give me Zestateth!’ Still nothing. Berath gritted his teeth as his blood began to boil. He felt hatred beyond anything previously known to him, yet it continued to fester inside his heart. ‘Panthiazma! I command thee, bestow thy sword Zestateth!’
Silence reigned supreme yet again. Berath’s teeth began to bear from the frustration of being ignored by the goddess. They gritted tightly against one another, linking together like a hinge that was holding the gates to a cage tightly closed. ‘Grraahh! Yet another being ignores my plea, and my command’ His wings increased in size as he continued to cry out in anger. His mind felt foreign, it felt like the animalistic side of him encroached over his waking mind. Foam began to form around his lips like a rabid dog. Berath hated everything his mind was conjuring up. It fueled the fire burning deep within his soul. It burned so fiercely that his body began to change. His fur changed its soft texture to that of molten stone. His mane and tail started to burn as if it became fire itself, and his wings turned transparent like glass. Lastly, a purple halo shone behind him. The halo looked as if it were to be the sun itself shining its radiance upon Beraths visage.

Once the transformation was finished, Berath stood still. He breathed and held out his foreleg again ‘Panthiazma, Grant me Zestateth!’ This time, the goddess bestowed upon Berath the very blade he sort after. The blade itself looked warped as if there were no straight edges from the horizon it gave off from the black hole, trapped inside it. There was movement from the event horizon, it was a slight trick of the light but it was there. He looked upon the sword
‘The deed has been met.’ He sighed softly ‘I now serve yet another, far greater power than myself. I shall wield this against the monster that consumes Amber so.’ He turned the sword downward as he pointed the blade to the floor he was standing on ‘Delve!’ Berath slammed the sword to the floor and the ground surrounding him started to disintegrate ‘Through the depths of the ever-molten realm of Tartarus, I must fall! I am ever in haste Zestateh, make your way through the layers as if they were butter!’ His descent quickened as the sword made its way through the 264 floors of Tartarus.

As he went down, a booming voice began to echo ‘My, my brother. You finally chose to save your precious Amber. Fantastic effort I must say. I will see you soon my dear, dear brother… Amber and I have a sight we would love to show you!’ and just like that, the voice dissipated. Concerned Berath commanded Zestateth to go faster ‘Faster! Devour the floors as if you were to swallow a celestial body!’ The sword made sure to abide by his command and expanded its radius further down. Shortly after, Berath’s hooves touched cold bedrock. Sorthath was standing in front of him with a wide smile ‘Welcome to my abode my dear brother. How was your trip?’ he let out a bark of laughter. Berath pointed Zestateth at his own flesh and blood ‘Do not assault me with idle chatter! Where is Amber, Sorthath?’ his patience was down to its last inch. ‘Oh, he is waiting in the other room. Come, he is hanging to see you again!’ yet again another bark of laughter emanated from the blackened figure as he lead Berath to his throne room.

‘See my dear brother. Amber is perfectly fine, only if he were to be whole’ He trotted away from Berath and proceeded to sit on his throne underneath Amber. Berath could only stare up at where Amber was hanging. It was the same as Summer Dream. Amber’s body was held in place by hooks that hung from the ceiling and floor of the room. The nightmares came flooding back from once they hid, deep within his mind. ‘It was you that did this to Summer Dream so long ago?’ he accused Sorthath. Sorthath nodded ‘Why yes it was me. Oh, the screams your dearly beloved sang, they were quite beautiful. I could see why you loved her. But, as they say, all of the good things need to die. Otherwise, how could you not miss them? Especially you brother! Your agony provides me with so much joy.’ His wide grin stung Beraths heart.

‘How can you be called my brother! All you do is create division and disdain. That will end here on this day.’ He could feel his longing for Summer Dream try to escape its confinement. ‘I have always suspected you as her Judge, jury, and executioner!’ His frustration was starting to cripple his mind ‘How, why… You have never been my brother, have you? The same with Froyen?’ He began to doubt everything he was remembering. Sorthath saw this happening ‘Oh yes. You were not of my blood nor my flesh. Did you think to be my equal? Bah! Such a peasant way of thinking!’ his smile faded as Berath pointed Zestateth directly toward Sorthath ‘Then I challenge you to a duel! Even if you are or are not from my blood, I still have this need to purge you from this realm of life. To gain any remaining peace I have left to my name.’

Sorthath snarled as he began to summon a two-tone blade from his magic. The blade was a light purple in colour and it glinted teal in the light. ‘I accept your challenge Berath! This will provide once and for all, that I am better with the sword!’ He lunged towards Berath with his own might.