Chapter 2: Greatness Awaits

"Do you think you can wield a weapon imbued with holy energy?" Hours ago, Madam Flora asked me this question. Any regular human who's asked this, should immediately have the same answer, but instead, I ask a question of my own: "Do I need to wield a holy weapon?" 

Holy weapons have always been said to be weapons of the Gods, and scarcely any anomalies are sighted in our realm. 

We're traveling through the air now, on our way to an expert blacksmith; Madam Flora says a holy weapon is my best bet at beating a high-ranking demon. She also says a human can achieve this feat without a holy weapon, but I'm certainly not at that level.

As we close in on old ruins, Madam Flora, Natos, and I begin to descend to ground level. After setting foot on the grand wasteland,  Natos and I follow Madam Flora into a dark cave. After a small amount of walking, we see two men  gathered around a campfire, set in front of an anvil. Both of them seem to be pretty old men, one is a large man dressed in dirty and baggy clothing, with an apron on. The other one is more human sized and is in some sort of garb that I can tell he regularly cleans. It has a design that I actually feel familiar with, but I can't remember why. 

Before we get too close to them, the man in the garb screams out: "Flora, why do you bother us this day?" His voice of dominance echoes throughout the cave.

"We have a creation, cursed by Thanatos!" Madam Flora screams back.  

The man's voice cracks "I have no interest in helping you, the risk of failure and me releasing the curse in our realm is far too great." 

"Oh shut it, you has-been; We don't need your arts, we're only here for a weapon!"

As soon as Madam Flora says this, I can feel the other man's sight set upon us. 

The man stands up and walks over to the anvil. His raspy voice calls out: "What kinda weapon are yer in here for?" 

"A weapon that I only trust you to create." Madam Flora says. The man chuckles and walks deeper into the cave: "You haven't asked for a holy weapon in quite a long time, Flor!" 

"I haven't needed it in quite a long time, my friend." Madam Flora says. 

The man in the garb looks at us with concern: "I conclude you are on your way to the Underworld; You can really get there?"

Madam Flora smiles in a sinister way: "I have my ways." 

After a few seconds, loud shrieking echoes throughout the cave. It scares me so much so that I can't even move my body. I try to question the noise, but my voice won't even escape my throat. 

I manage to move my eyes, looking at Madam Flora who has a serious demeanor, with a slight hint of regret.

The man eventually returns, with  a bright white light shining through his hand, and a large amount of blood on his arm.

He glares at me, effortlessly causing intimidation, but I try my best to stand my ground: "To me it doesn't look like you need one now." The man says mockingly. 

"The young lady hasn't made a sound this entire time." The man in the garb chimes in. "She doesn't seem to be confident that she can handle a holy weapon."

As the intimidating man prepares to craft a weapon , he holds up his hand with light in it: "This here is the energy of an angel." He says as he begins to smile wickedly. "The screaming you heard back there, that's who I got it from."

I've tried to free my voice this entire time, but what this man just implied may keep it locked away forever.

Madam Flora puts her arm around me, trying to comfort me: "These men wouldn't dare harm us, and what they have going on is none of our business."

I can't help but think that it is my business, seeing as I'm the one in need of a weapon. 

"Oh yea, I saw the sword you hold, but I still wanna make sure; Is that your weapon of choice?"The intimidating man asks. 

I stand in silence.

"Come on lady! Talk to me here!"

I need this, I can't expect to fight a demon if I fear the man that sharpens my blade.

"Yes, a sword will suffice." I finally manage to say.

"Tch. That's boring." He says as he continues to work.

The man in the garb stands and walks over to me. "How about warming up before you touch the holy weapon?"

I nod in agreement.

"We'll go outside and you can combat for a minute." He says

"Sounds good, but who will she face," Madam Flora asks.

Footsteps close in on us as she asks this. Walking past us to the outside, is a group of lifeless bodies with armor and weapons on them.

Madam Flora grows confused: "Raising the dead? Is that not taboo?"

"You have much to learn, Flora," the man in the garb says. "The bodies are just that, bodies. I did not grant them life, I did not grant them a soul, nothing about them changes the natural order of our realm."

The man turns to me: "Miss I don't think we were ever properly introduced." 

"We haven't been, my name is Aldith." 

"Beautiful name, and you can refer to me as Albasel, my intimidating friend is Farrazel." 

Madam Flora, Natos and I follow Albasel to the outside. Six bodies stand tall with weapons and shields in hand. I draw my sword and stand ready for battle. 

"Once you act, they will react, so begin when you are ready,"

I rush at the group, targeting the one who stands in front of the others. I immediately stab through its torso. As I pull my sword out, another one bashes me with its shield. I'm forced a few feet back, but I manage to keep my composure. Before I know it, I'm struck in the head from behind. I immediately begin to bleed, 

I constantly try to fight my way through, but I'm overwhelmed by the amount of enemies there are. I'm not used to this, I can't remember the last time I've fought multiple enemies on my own, especially any that are at my strength level. 

Suddenly the enemies cease their attack on me. I look over as Albasel approaches me. "I do believe you are capable, but you don't show it, let us go back inside and rest ourselves." 

Madam Flora comforts me back through the cave. Eventually we sit at the campfire as Farrazel continues his work.

For hours we sit in silence with only the sound of metal flowing through our ears.

After a while the sound of the metal stops. "Here ya are, a sword imbued with holy energy, I call it Agneon."

I hesitantly walk over to the man, to see a shite shining sword, with script embedded into it. 

"W-What is this script?" I ask.

The man chuckles "It's my own, anyone who sees it can know that I'm the one who created the weapon to which they met their demise."

I reach for the sword, but my hand is swatted away. I turn to see Madam Flora next to me, more serious than she's ever been.

"As you know this isn't a weapon to handle carelessly; We don't even know if you can handle  it."

"So what do I need to do?" I ask 

Albasel walks to me with a sense of  determination: "A test. We will see if you can withstand the Angel's energy."

"I can." I say.

"We'll be the judge of that."

I look at Farrazel: "Thank you for giving me a fighting chance."

He laughs at me: "No problem lady." 

"Let us go at once, Miss Aldith, you will combat the reanimations once again." Albasel says. 

Losing to them once struck my pride, but no way I can lose with a holy weapon

Farrazel grabs the sword, and we all walk outside to meet the lifeless bodies.

"Miss Aldith, you need not fear these enemies this time, one swing of Agneon will disintegrate any of them."

Madam Flora puts her hand on my shoulder: "Remember Aldith, you can do this."

As she touches me, my armor disappears, and is replaced with a black tunic dress,wool pants, and boots.

"What is this?" I ask.

"You won't need your armor when you hold this weapon." She says.

"Do Angels not wear armor?"

"Most do, but the armor isn't crafted by human hands." Farrazel chimes in.

"Take the sword when you are ready." Albasel says.

I take a deep breath and look over at Natos, who's condition worsens every second. My love for my friend makes me more ready than ever.

I turn to Farrazel and reach for the sword. He smiles mockingly: "Good luck." He says as he places the sword in my hand.

One touch, one touch of the sword is all it takes for my soul to begin to shine. It hurts, and I can feel myself becoming something greater than I should be. Marks grow over my body, as I try to gain control of myself. My breath is being taken away, I can't handle this. 

I fall to my knees desperately clinging on to the sword. "AHHHH" I can't help but to scream. 

Eventually I get entrapped in my thoughts. I think of the friends that I still need to protect. I think of Natos, who will die to this curse if I don't do anything. Most importantly I think of the woman I'm worthy of becoming.

I push through all the pain, I push through all the power. I stand and turn my sights onto the lifeless bodies, my enemies. 

I rush at them and swing at them in a flash. A giant wave of energy slashes into all of them, disintegrating them into nothing. I grow excited, with a feeling that I can do anything.

"Great job Miss Aldith, you have great control of it, you can release hold of the sword now." 

I try to let go of it, I want to let go of it, but the back of my mind can only think of one thing; slaughtering demons. 

My body shines brighter than ever, and I begin to feel excruciating pain.

"Does this usually happen, Albasel?" Madam Flora questions

"No, it doesn't usually go like this!" Albasel says, "

"She's like a bomb, ready to explode a wave of Angelic energy." Farrazel comments.

As I look over at everyone, Madam Flora begins to wave her hands as if she's performing a spell: "Yes she is a bomb, and I know exactly where to plant her."

Out of nowhere Natos begins to shriek, the first peep I've heard out of him in a long while. 

"What ails the beast?" Albasel screams. 

It takes only a second for us to realize what's wrong with Natos. Natos' fur begins to crack and dark black energy begins to spill out of him.

"Natos!" I try to scream, but my voice is only hollow. A dark black and blue fifure begins to form above Natos,I see him with his hair over his face, only revealing his blank demeanor. 

We all know who it is, whether a sculpture, painting, or face to face; We've all seen the God Thanatos.

I haven't gotten this holy sword to battle Thanatos himself, no matter what anyone thinks; I'm not ready. The energy he carries dominates what is in my hand. This is what makes me miss my allies, and it also makes me realize why they wanted nothing to do with this journey

"Why does Thanatos rise so soon, the curse showed no sign of taking effect!" Albasel grows angry as he begins to perform magical arts of his own.

"Albasel!" Madam Flora yells: "Help Aldith and I venture into the underworld." 

The Underworld? I've just gotten this weapon, I can't even control it, I don't expect to claim victory over a demon so soon.

Albasel riles up:"Are you mad, why would I ever help you venture to the Underworld, especially now that Thanatos is here?"

"I can send Thanatos back, but only if you aid me."

"Why would I aid you?

"If Thanatos is fully released, he will stop at nothing until he finds each of his targets, and we won't be able to count how many lives come to an end." 

Albasel grunts, and an orange light surrounds Natos, Madam Flora, and I: "Tch. How did I not foresee this coercion, and why is it that a rookie witch such as yourself has control over Thanatos."

As Albasel says this, my head begins spinning. All I can see is flames, all I can hear are screams, all I can feel is hands grabbing onto me, pulling me down. I try to fight back, free myself of whatever is holding me. As I desperately fight against the feelings, a mental image of Madam Flora appears before me. I see her with her eyes closed and radiating purple, in an instant all of the former horrors go away.Eventually, I'm surrounded by a wall of red rock with only one path to go down.