Chapter 4

The Centipilo, as it turned out it was called, was one patient creature. It stayed there watching them approach.

“We do have a plan now right?” Asked Carter.

Ellie smiled, “Do we ever?”

Carter threw his hands up and grabbed his daggers, “Then let’s go out with a bang.”

Ellie started creating a few spells she’d been needing to try out, but before they were able to, a blur of black appeared from behind the creature. The creature screeched and backed away from the spot, as a robed figure appeared from the dust. They were definitely a demon, and wielded a large greatsword. They looked toward them, Ellie didn’t know what to do other than wave to them. They turned away, back to the ever powerful creature. Then twirled the greatsword like it was a butter knife. They ran to the creature, which was already aggravated and ready for fighting attacked as well. The demon just twirled their sword, and flung it out to the creature with unnatural strength. The sword looked like it moved through the air curving to the creature, and eventually hitting the creature dead on. It squealed and slithered away from the demon, seeming too unsettled by them. The creature made one last hiss, and Ellie shot it with a blast of energy. It was flung into the air and when it landed it dug into the ground, and vanished.

Carter turned to the hooded figure, now standing. Looking directly at them, “Who do you think they are?” Carter asked.

Ellie shrugged, “Don’t know,” She used her abilities to try and feel their energy build up. She saw many strange things, including an ability to somehow increase their own abilities. “They have a strange energy build up, maybe approach cautiously.” Ellie looked at the figure, and put her hands up. “We don’t want any trouble!” She yelled, “We just want to talk!”

The figure nodded, “A thanks would be nice.”

Carter walked up, “A thanks huh? You know we didn’t need your help.” Ellie stepped in front of him.

“This ones a bit.” Ellie moved her finger in a spiral motion next to her head, hopefully saying he was crazy. “Coo coo. I’m the one who really talks, I’m like you, kinda. Your energy make up, it’s not normal.”

The figure tilted its head to the right, “You can sense people’s energy make up?”

Ellie nodded, “Yes, and yours is quite different from either of ours.” 

The figure started approaching, when they were close enough they put away their greatsword. “Who are you travelers?”

Ellie nodded, “I’m Ellie Smith, this is Carter Diaz. We just want to talk about how you got those weird abilities.”

The figure nodded and pulled off their hood. Showing a demon with a broken horn on one side of their head, and two different colored eyes. “I’m Tharnale Soulcleaver, who are you? Truly?”

Tharnale set up a small campfire, and Ellie created a dome of stone to protect them from the outside. They all sat down, and it took many minutes for Tharnale to speak.

“Well, I guess you're both waiting for me to speak?” Tharnale said.

Ellie shrugged, “Well, ya. Sorry, I’ll introdu…”

“No.” Tharnale said, “I deserve you both an explanation, plus you two seem like you’ve gone through a lot together. You seem like you two know each other well, unlike I.” Tharnale took a deep breath, “My name is Tharnale Soulcleaver, I was born to a powerless family. My mother gave birth to me without my family’s knowledge of who the father was, they never figured out. I soon developed the ability to use magical energy for a powerful strike, or super strength if you will.” Tharnale grabbed their greatsword with ease, “I was given this by a stranger, they said I was destined for greatness, and that I’d do great things. I took the sword, and soon learned it was a great weapon…”

“It’s enchanted.” Ellie thought out loud.

Tharnale looked at her, “It is?”

Ellie nodded, “I can feel its magical makeup, it has a powerful spell. Maybe, soul magic?” Ellie wasn’t lying, it did have a strange magical makeup. As did Tharnale himself, but she couldn’t quite understand what.

Tharnale shrugged, “First I’ve heard, nobody told me anything about my own past. My father’s a mystery to me, my greatest weapon is a hidden door, and my powers understand only themselves.”

Ellie nodded, “I know what that feels like.”

Carter nodded, “She ended up in another dimension because of it.”

Tharnale looked at Carter, then back at Ellie. “Is this Elf saying you're able to travel dimensions from your ability to see magical makeups?”

Ellie nodded, “I’m able to control dimensional energy as well, them both being similar. So I’ve been able to accidentally travel through them at times.”

Tharnale nodded his head, “Impressive, so you have both been traveling dimensions for what reason?”

Ellie nodded, “Not meaning to obviously, but you get it.”

“Now we’ve just been bouncing through different dimensions trying to avoid some things.” Carter said.

Ellie shook her head, “Yes, we’re on the run.”

Tharnale nodded, “Interesting, what a crossroad I have come to. I to am on the run from my former home.”

Ellie started getting curious, “What are you talking about?”

Tharnale sighed, “My mother died giving birth, my family blamed me and my unknown father for the death of my mother. The only thing I remember of them is this, ‘Let the universe guide you well.’ I believe that is true for every person, we all have our paths to take. Maybe this is mine, I have made the decision.”

Ellie was so confused, “Wait, what’s going on?”

Tharnale smiled, “I shall join you on your quest.”

Carter threw up his hands, “Yipie, another soulmate.”

‘What happened?’ Anna said, she appeared next to Ellie.

Tharnale didn’t seem even a little bit fazed, “Ah, you have a spirit guiding you as well? Tis’ destiny.” Tharnale jumped up, “Prepare for sleep my companions! For tomorrow we shall venture to our new destination!” Tharnale looked to Ellie, “Which is?” 

Ellie looked to Carter then back at Tharnale, “The Heart’s forge.”

Tharnale nodded, “A worthy quest for us, let us use the energy of the forge to travel further into the multiverse.”

The rest of the night they slept in Ellie’s stone dome, and prepared for the day ahead.