Chapter 24: Lost Viking
I don't know how long it's been. As usual, time in this place feels distorted. During my break, I sat alone at the same Lucky Oister. I just ordered some troll blood to ease myself. And when that didn't work I mixed in some wine to go along with it. It somewhat worked I guess. It didn't shake the feeling that it should have been me that got hit. I should have been the one.
As I sat there, I was expecting Viking to show up, but at the same time, I expected him not to show. I was sure he was dealing with his own problems over the loss of his brother.
With his absence, I began to feel even worse. It was just an average day. I remembered when Hornet was late. Just an average day. And the events that happened after broke my view of this world. I still believed in the Queen. She was still righteous, but there was something gnawing at me. I just didn't know what. Was it guilt? Maybe. I was just sure that it wasn't anything that could lead me to become like Cutter. I couldn't imagine myself a traitor. Yet, I couldn't have imagined he was one, too.
As Viking still didn't show up, I continued to get flashbacks to what happened to Cutter and Hornet, and how quick it was. Living in one moment. Dead the next. Their lifeless eyes. Their viscous blood. Her blood on me. So much. It didn't comfort me, but at least Doc's death had purpose. He went out in a blaze of glory. He died fighting for what he believed in. I suppose even Cutter did so, as well. But there was no purpose in Hornet's death. Nothing at all. It was just like Brother's death so long ago. A useless death that can be avoided by just walking two steps to the side.
And when I think back, I didn't care whether they died for what they believed in. I'd rather have them here with me. Before all of this. Before coming to this dark land. It felt like a golden age. It was so lonely now without them. I felt even more disconnected from the rest of my brothers and sisters. I knew that those three could never be replaced.
That's when I thought that Viking and I had to stick together no matter what. It was just the two of us, now. I already couldn't forgive myself for losing Doc, Cutter, and Hornet. I didn't know how I would cope if he was gone, too. I didn't even tell him what really happened to his brother, but I wasn't sure that this was a good time to talk about it.
Nonetheless I drank the rest of my troll blood in one big gulp.
"Thanks, barkeep. I'm going to head out," I said as I walked out.
I decided to go to the mines where he was stationed. Even if he decided to forgo his break, I'd like to stay by his side. And if he didn't want me there with him, I'd understand and give him some space. I just wanted to see if he was alright.
When I got there, I asked one of my brothers to point me towards Viking's location. However, he was a little startled and was reluctant in giving me his location. I pressed him, and he gave in. He guided me to an old, abandoned house. As I was about to enter, he gave me just one little warning.
"Just be careful. He's a little... different than who you remember. More dangerous," he said.
I nodded my head and waved him away. I didn't really take his warning to heart. I was sure that Viking was mourning over the loss of his brother. When Cutter was missing, he searched for weeks before he accepted it - or so I thought. I don't think he ever got over his brother. I didn't know how he felt when he finally found his brother. I didn't know what was worse. Whether knowing that he was dead or not knowing at all. At least, I thought that he could get some closure now.
When I enterred into the premises, I gave a greeting.
"Hello. Viking, it's me. It's Roach."
It was dark. Some candles and light fixtures around the walls dimly lit up the place. As I adjusted my eyes, I began to see Viking. His enormous body facing away from me. His body had some scars and shock burns. I didn't see his face, however. But who else could it have been?
I put up a smile and was about to say hello again. But my smile immediately turned to horror.
Viking was atop a dark elf woman. I didn't recognize her, but she was one of the slaves. She had that magical collar around her neck. She was motionless and empty, but not dead. Her body was badly beaten. Her face had been pummeled in. Viking struck her in the face one more time.
"Tell me where Cutter is! Tell me!" Viking yelled to the silent slave before punching her again.
I took a step back and as soon as I did, Viking quickly turned his head. His face looked like the face of a demon. He was in a state far different than what I was used to - even when he went into the fight. Then, it immediately turned back into the face I recognized. He smiled to me as if nothing was wrong. There was a brief silence before Viking spoke.
"Oh. Hey, Roach. How is everything? I'm sorry I'm late to our usual meetup," he said as I was still frozen in fear, "Anyways, have you seen where Cutter is. I haven't been able to find him. I could have sworn that he was by my side as I guarded the mines. The next moment he was gone."
And in a second, his face twisted into a torrent of anger. He began to ramble to himself. He kept twitching, and his eyes moved side to side without any sense of direction. He made some growls and noises.
"It's those damn dark elves. They took him. They must know where he is. They took him. Hah."
He punched the dark elf girl a couple more times. He didn't hold back as I heard some crackling noises and the sound of shattering bones. She was bleeding heavily both from the inside and out. So many bruises around her body. Her face looked like a mosaic.
"No. Not yet. Can't kill, yet. Got to get answers. Need to find Cutter. Need to find my brother. Maybe, you'll talk more if I take this collar off."
He ripped off the collar with his bare hands. As soon as he did, the girl began to ache and writhe in pain. She immedietely could react to the pain. She tried gasping for air, but as she did, Viking hit her in the face once more.
"Yes. Please resist. Makes it more fun. Disgusting dark elves. Yet, so beautiful, too. Such nice dark complexion. Soft and smooth skin. Beautiful. Treacherous, but beautiful. "
As he rambled, he began to rip off the woman's clothing and feel her body.
Then, he looked in my direction still stunned. He paused for a few moments occasionally growling and making guttural noises.
"Wh-wh-what are you doing, Viking?" I asked in concern.
"My apologies, Roach. I forgot you were here. Would you like to help? I've been having trouble finding my brother, you see. He was tired so I carried him around. Next thing I knew, he was gone. Would you like to hel-"
The woman instantly tried to bite Viking's fingers.
"Ow!" he reacted and struck the woman once more in the face rendering her unconscious. "Disgusting dark elf."
As he continued to ramble and play around with the woman's body, I backed away slowly. There was nothing I could do. My fear eventually turned to sadness. He really wasn't the same brother that came with me into the sewers. However, I didn't hate him for what he was doing. If it was somebody else, I would have done something to stop him. But it wasn't. He was Viking. He wasn't the same. Whatever I said would have fell on deaf ears. But he was Viking nonetheless. And I didn't want to lose him, too.
I closed the door and left him alone with the girl. I walked away depressed, guilty, and alone with nothing but my blade and electric crossbow by my side.
I visited Hornet's grave. It was just a small patch of land. No signs to indicate where she was, but I knew. I never really mourned for any of my other brothers and sisters. It just felt so strange. And depressing. As I looked at the grave, there was something peculiar about it. It looked as though it had been recently dug up. The patch of dirt seemed more hollow than it was the day I buried her. But as I was about to get closer to inspect it, my eyes began to get blurry. It was a bizarre sensation. There was some water flowing out of my eyes. They streamed down my cheeks and blurred my vision. I dont' think I ever experienced this until this moment.
"What is this?" I asked myself as I wiped the fluid away. I learned later that they were called tears. And the tears just kept flowing. I had no control over it. I fell down to my knees trying to wipe them away, but it would just keep coming. The whole grave underneath me was drowing in my tears. And there was nothing I could do to stop it. So, I just continued to cry there alone. I didn't care how many patrols I missed. I just kept crying and crying until there was nothing left but an empty shell.
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