JARR'S CHAMBER - MORNING

“What’s going on?” Nira looked back to the floating platform for an answer, and what she saw only raised more questions. The legendary warrior, Jarr, had risen from his afterlife slumber. The why a dead giant came back to life was less of a concern as to how for Nira. Undead Giants weren’t a common sight in Mara and the Ina weren’t known to use any magical artifacts other than their supposed god-crafted weapons. And yet, there he was in all his undead glory.

“Has he said anything?” Nira nudged Lio’s shoulder.

“Not a single word.”

“Do you think he wants to fight?”

“Well, I don’t think he wants to shake hands and make friends with his would-be grave robbers.”

“Come, intruders. I wish to speak to you directly.” Jarr’s voice rumbled through the entire cavern. It was a low timbre, yet it pierced through the air like elven daggers. The bloodlust had subsided. Jarr looked annoyed, no longer furious.  Had Nira read his intentions wrong?

“What should we do? Escape?” Lio tugged at Nira’s arm.

“The least we can do is say hello. We did interrupt his afterlife nap. Keep your guard up in case we have to fight.”

“It always does one way or another whenever we’re together.” Lio rolled her eyes.

 They complied with the giant’s request and swam over to the platform with haste. Jarr’s gaze never wavered from them. Now that she had a closer look at Jarr, Nira’s fear shifted to intrigue. Jarr wore a traditional headpiece, unique to the Chief Warrior, which had the emblem of the Ina’s War God. A medallion rested on his bare chest, emitting a smokey purple aura. His lower body remained exposed as well, save for a sash-like loincloth that covered his manlier bits. A true Ina warrior from head to toe.

“What’s that red powder that’s all over him?” Nira whispered to Lio.

“Zafira… A mineral the Ina used to preserve the corpses of royalty. As far as I know, it can’t bring people back to l—”

“Enough chatter.” Jarr stomped his foot on the stone platform.

“For reasons unknown, my ancestors have given me the task to defend my belongings…You have come for my weapon, correct?” His eyebrows furled in slight annoyance. “A bold and idiotic move, but I might as well enjoy myself a little.” The giant cracked his knuckles. Jarr pulled on the two chains that rested beside his sarcophagus. The stone chest rose from the water behind him.

“I’m not fond of thieves, but I can tell you two have strong fighting spirits. If you can topple me even once, you may take my weapon… If I knock you two off the platform, however, you must promise to leave this place.” He yanked the stone chest off the chains like they were made of rotten wood.

“You are free to ignore my request and die instead. I am not inclined one way or the other.” Jarr caught the chest, crumbling it to dust in his hands. Once the dust cleared, the “legendary sword” finally made its appearance. Jarr’s weapon was no sword, at least not in the traditional sense, instead the Giant’s revered weapon was a club forged in Kalora wood adorned with serrated obsidian blades around the edges.

Jarr glanced at his blade with a somber smile. A yearning lingered in his gaze that Nira couldn’t hope to understand.

“Weird way to look at a weapon.” Nira blurted.

“Don’t antagonize him!”

“Decide.” Jarr stepped forward. His aura remained true to his name as one of the most powerful warriors of Ina. This wouldn’t be a stroll by any means. A real challenge, Nira thought. Jarr, the legendary warrior of Ina… His name alone could send dozens of men to cower in fear. The obvious and unrelenting revelation that their strength paled in comparison, destroyed the will to fight of even the most seasoned of soldiers. This was the kind of battle that sparked adrenaline incomparable to any other. In a fight between two opposing forces and desires… She could forget even the darkest of memories. She could be… free.

“That sounds good to me. We accept!” Nira wasted no time shifting gears into combat. This was her natural habitat.

“Of course we do.” Lio sighed.

Jarr swung his bladed club over his shoulder. “State your name, warriors! Before I crush you with my dear Macahuatli!” He swung first, a sweeping strike with his bladed club aimed to slice them clean in half or worse, fail and brutalize them in its wake.

“We haven’t even said our names yet!” Lio shouted.

Nira and Lio evaded the strike, barely avoiding a tragic death. Nira scanned the platform… Nothing that could be used as cover. This was an arena for Jarr to defend his prized possession, designed to leave any intruder at the mercy of the giant’s massive range of attack.

“I’m Nira. Make sure to remember me when I send you back to the great beyond. The sassy elf is my friend, Lio.”

“You still haven’t gotten over the barbarian joke, have you?”

“I can’t remember the last time someone survived for more than a few seconds. I might be able to let loose for once.” Jarr looked impressed that they didn’t die immediately. Understandable as no amateur would be able to evade an attack like that. One wrong move and they’d turn into an abstract blood mosaic on the cavern walls. Maybe one day someone will mistake them for a story.

Their fight with Jarr was less of a back and forth and more of a series of defensive maneuvers to not die. Jarr’s reach outclassed them by a ridiculous margin. He was a giant, no surprise there. While he was on the smaller side of the scale, a small giant was still several times larger than any other race.

We need an opening… but how?

Nira’s speed kept Jarr’s focus on him for the most part, while Lio got in a couple of slashes here and there that amounted to nothing.

“Watch out!”

Nira found herself inches away from a direct hit from Jarr. She lost herself in the heat of the moment. Shit. If not for the years of combat experience which trained her instincts to the point where her body could protect her even when her mind couldn’t keep up… She’d be dead.

Despite defending against the blow, the overwhelming power of Jarr sent her flying across the platform. She acted quick, slamming her blade onto the floor to stop her momentum. Nira stopped short of falling but her right arm took a hell of a beating. It wasn’t broken, but there was no way she was going to leave Lio to fight for herself and there was no way in hell she was going to lose so easily. She dashed forward to continue the fight but saw confusion in Jarr’s face.

“That appearance… What are you?”

Nira stopped her assault. She reached for her hood and found nothing. Of course, how could she expect it to stay in place given the force behind that last attack. For the first time in a year, she had transformed. Gone was her black hair, replaced by a mixture of fiery reds and scorched orange that evoked the colors of a sunset. In this form, the ends of her hair flickered with small flames, claws replaced her fingernails, and her fangs sharpened like the deadliest of blades.  It was as if the sun itself had blessed Nira with its strength.

“It’s nothing. Let’s continue our fight.” She pulled over her hood frantically, as if somehow that would erase it from Jarr’s memory.

“Are you hiding your strength, warrior? Fighting at one’s full strength is a sign of mutual respect… I would hope you wouldn’t insult me by doing otherwise.” Jarr’s enjoyment turned into disappointed anger.

Lio placed her hand on Nira’s back. Her hand is gentle, a familiar warmth that had put her at ease countless times before. “I know how you feel about it… But this isn’t the time to hold back. One more direct hit like that won’t end well for you and I’ll follow shortly after because we both know you’re both the tank and firepower here. They’re your powers… Why not use them?”

“I can’t.” Nira stated. It surprised her that Lio would even consider it, but then again, she didn’t know the whole story. Nobody did. Nobody that mattered anyway. Nira took a deep breath. “But we can do this. We just need one good opening.”

Goddamn, it hurt like hell. If they continued this fight as is… The chances of victory were slim to none. She was no fool. She knew another attack like that would break every bone in her body. That’s why she needed to end this without getting hit again.

“Can you stop his weapon?”

“Maybe, but not for more than two seconds.”

“That’s all I need. We’re ending this in one move.” Nira pointed her blade back at Jarr. “Listen up, Jarr. Rest assured I’m fighting you with my full strength.”

Jarr did not respond. He nodded in agreement and engaged in battle once again. For but a moment, Nira did the impossible. She dodged every single attack Jarr threw her way with grace, retaliating with eagle-like precision. Lio’s dagger flew past her, taking advantage of every opening.

 Every fiber of Nira’s body focused on the singular task of taking the undead Giant down. No matter what. She could lose her arm. She could lose a leg. She could break every bone in her body. She could be half-dead by the end of it. Any of these outcomes would be preferable over even the mere thought of using that “blessing”.

I will beat him!

I will not use it!

I can do this…

I can win.

Nira ducked under Jarr’s fist.

This was the moment.

Wait for the attack to come. Let him believe you don’t see it coming.

Here it comes. The moment. The opening to end this.

“Now, Lio!”

Jarr’s attack slowed down, leaving him flustered.

“Looks like you’re moving a little slower… Legendary Warrior of Ina!”

Nira should’ve had him. But of course this was no foot soldier they were up against. Jarr didn’t allow the confusion to distract him for long, reacting immediately to their play by using his fist to smash Nira to the floor.

“Nira!” Lio scrambled to her side.

Nira should’ve been dead, but Jarr pulled his punch just enough to not shatter every bone in her body. In exchange for the gift of living another day, Nira paid the price of feeling like her body had been crushed under the weight of a thousand men.

“No half-baked warrior could ever hope of defeating me. You have plenty of grit, but you lack conviction. I do not know your upbringing so I will abstain from assuming your livelihood, however a warrior in chains will never achieve their true potential. And you, Nira--” Jarr knelt to her level. She wanted to stand, but Jarr’s punch obliterated her body’s will to fight.

“Your fists are haunted with the weight of heavy burdens.” He sighed. Jarr lifted Nira from the ground to her feet. She stumbled, but Lio helped her up.

“I take it that’s our cue to leave?” Lio said.

“It is… Nothing will change if you attack me again as is. I wouldn’t recommend it unless you wish for a swift and brutal death. Regardless, one look at your friend’s eyes makes it clear they are not those of someone with the will to fight.”

Nira said nothing. She couldn’t find any words to say despite wanting to say everything and more. It was her loss. A complete, overwhelming and embarrassing loss. Her consciousness hung by a thread, but she could just barely muster to stay awake… Not that she wanted to. Nira let go, hoping for some respite from the millions of thoughts plaguing her mind. She’d rather face the soothing void of thoughtlessness. Anything was better than remembering.

CHAPTER THREE END.

Author's Note:

A bit of a somber end to this one, and a bit of a turning point to peeling back on some aspects of the story untouched until now. Did you enjoy the fight? Battle scenes are always a challenge to write without it falling into the trap of describing a sequence of actions for too long. I think this was a nice balance between story and beating the shit out of each other.

It'll be a while before the next chapter, but I'm working hard to get it to you guys as soon as I can! I can only do so much with the spare time I have between work and my studies... It's tough. Aurora will continue... But it'll be slow for a while until I get some more free time.

Till next time!

-Juan