In a World without God

What could it be compared to? A wildflower blooming through the snow, heralding spring; raindrops that moisten the parched earth; a star in the northern sky to guide sailors; the moonlight warmly embracing those who wander through the night.

“This can’t be! Why are you here?!”

Tibea screamed, her voice shaking, eyes wide as she stared at the sight before her. She retracted all the tentacles she’d been wielding and crouched down low, protecting herself. She looked like a frightened snake.

The people stared, stunned as if awakening from a long winter’s sleep. Murmurs rippled amongst them.

“It can’t be!”

“Is it really her?”

“Why didn’t she come sooner!”

The ominous figure finally took a step forward. Feet gracing the floor, white as milk. The air rippled around the figure like a pebble dropped in a still lake. As it moved forward, the blood, maggots, and rotting flesh were miraculously pushed to one side. A white cobblestone pavement appeared, framed by fresh green grass. A clean, comforting scent filled the air, driving away Tibea’s stench.

Several people knelt on the ground, their hands clasped together, as they chanted with tears in their eyes.

“That look, that smell. Is it really her?”

“In my weakness, I spoke disrespectful words without believing the light would come.”

“Please forgive us and dispel the darkness before our eyes!”

No one dared to utter her name. Not even those who had become Tibea’s feet. Maybe they were ashamed or afraid, but Ishkur didn’t care.

He did not kneel but instead stood taller than ever, frowning. He was disgusted with the people. How could the masses be so shameless, swearing and cursing her a second ago but now expecting redemption?

Ishkur studied the figure. What did he care if she was a Goddess or not? What did it matter? Ishkur was only interested in one thing.

Could she stand against Tibea?

As the figure took another step forward, her form twitched like a shimmer in a mirror. Tibea laughed.

“So that’s it! You’re just a shard, after all!”

Tibea leaped to her feet and spread her tentacles wide. She didn’t care about the others anymore. She aimed only for the figure, but her tentacles couldn’t reach. As soon as one rotting tentacle came close, it disintegrated into dust.

“Return to the earth as Uraeus has ordained.”

No one saw the figure speak, but they all heard the powerful voice in their minds. A vast circle appeared on the ground. It was so large that it covered the entire square and shone as brightly as the full moon.

“How dare you, Lutea! You’re just a shard!”

Tibea screamed, but she couldn’t move. She lay motionless, her body shaking as if weighed down by something heavy.

“You wretched remnant of a goddess, do you think they’re worth saving? They have cursed and resented you. They swore to serve me!”

Tibea’s words made no impact. From her great heaving body, glowing masses began to rise in a great circle. Thousands of tiny balls of light flitted through the air like fireflies. Voices of ecstasy could be heard ringing around the square from the specks of light.

“Finally, I am free!”

“I can sleep now.”

“Thank you, thank you.”

Those who Tibea had recently swallowed walked out from her crumbling flesh alive and began to look for their families. When all the light faded, Tibea’s body was a husk, no more than a crumpled shape resembling a giant earthworm. The people cheered.

“The light that drives out darkness!”

“Goddess of our souls!”

“She has saved us all!”

Tibea glared at them and turned her venomous stare back at the figure, which continued to blur like a mirage.

“You are a fool! You should have killed me before you flaunted your hypocrisy. Soon, you will be gone, and I will consume everyone again! I will cause them all terrible pain!”

Tibea laid down her threat, but the figure simply stood in place. They all heard the voice once more.

“Tibea, the girl who swallowed the witch’s finger. Look at yourself. You are suffering more than anyone else.”

“Shut up, you wretch!”

“Hatred is a knife that stabs its wielder. Spit out your hate along with the finger.”

Tibea snarled.

“What kind of a fool do you think you are to say such things! I waited for you, and you never came to my rescue. Humans turned their backs on me, and only Granadilla saved me!”

Tibea coiled and sprang up like a viper, lunging at the shimmering figure. It was an intimidating move, even without her legs.

“I may lack my strength, but I will always love you, Tibea, even if you hate me.”

Tibea brought the total weight of her gruesome body down on the spot where the figure had stood with an earth-shaking thud. The ground rumbled, and the crowd stumbled as one in the aftershock. Tibia’s long body writhed in the place where the glowing figure had been.

“Hypocritical bitch!”

The crowd watched in horror. They never knew such a creature could be so powerful, but something strange happened just as they began to feel hopeless once more.

Dozens of butterflies flew out from beneath Tibea’s body. They glowed silver, like the shards that had fallen from Enri’s heart. The butterflies fluttered and flitted through the air, then split into two groups. One landed on Enri’s chest, the other on Eds.

A fragrant, warm breeze blew. The wind carried a gentle voice.

“Captain Bosha. Please be everyone’s hope.”

Ed opened his eyes.

***

Ed pushed himself up, feeling nostalgic. It was exactly how he’d felt in Ygraine’s arms. The scent wafting through the air was unmistakably Ygraine’s.

Ed rose to his feet. He wondered how he’d survived, what the monster in front of him was, why Ygraine’s scent was wafting through the air, and what he should do next. The answers were already in his mind as soon as he thought about these questions. It was as if he’d been talking to Ygraine for a long time. A sense of longing washed through Ed

Why couldn’t I see her face?

“You smell disgusting!”

Ed turned towards the voice and took in the creature before him properly for the first time. It truly was hideous. A massive piece of bone jutted out of Tibea’s body. It looked like a vertebrae and was as long as three adults. It was a spear. Before Ed could assess what was happening further, Tibea hoisted the spear and lunged for Ed.

Memories from his time as Bosha filled Ed’s head. Tibea was a familiar presence in his memories. She had been a significant part of the witch’s army.

Long time no see, worm. You’re still ugly.

Ed instinctively reached for this sword and launched towards Tibea, swinging the blade wide. He dodged Tibea’s lunge effortlessly.

“You!” Tibea shouted, but it was hard to change direction with her legs gone.

Ed spun and disappeared from view. He reappeared at Tibea’s side. A blue aura rose from his body like the color of forget-me-nots, and then a white aura enveloped it. It looked like snow covering the ground.

Ed felt the warmth of a spring breeze on his body. It was as if Ygraine was holding the sword with him.

Ed swung the glowing sword deep into Tibea’s flesh in a long, wide gash. A thick, rancid liquid like rotten oil spewed out of Tibea’s body.

“Aaargh! You rotten peasant!”

Tibea twisted violently from side to side from the pain.

“Everyone, get back!”

It was Enri who called out. He, too, had miraculously healed and was standing a short distance from Ed, watching the attack. The crowd stared at him, shocked by his and Ed’s presence.

Enri gestured to the crowd to move away and drew his sword, leaping forward to attack Tibea in her weakened state. His strike couldn’t cut as deep as Ed with his Magick, but he wanted to distract Tibea and draw her away from the crowd. He knew in his heart that the Goddess had saved him so he could protect the people.

Taking advantage of Enri’s opening, Ed launched himself once more. Aiming for the wound, he swung his sword again.

“Curse you all!”

Tibea screamed as blood gushed out of the deep wound Enri and Ed had carved in her flesh, staining the floor black. Ed had managed to sever the half-human form at the head of Tibea’s grotesque body from the rest of the large worm-like bulk. The severed torso wriggled and crawled across the floor, dragging itself in an attempt to get away from Ed. No longer able to attack him with her weight, Ed swung his fearsome blade again and brought it down on the putrid form.

Tibea’s mangled remains were pitiful. Her dismembered torso still struggled on despite the mortal wounds Ed had struck. With what strength she had left, Tibea raised her spear and made to throw it at Ed. Again, he dodged easily.

“It’s over, Tibea.”

Ed grimaced as Tibea turned to face him and hissed, blood spitting through her teeth. Enri moved to stand beside Ed, and they looked down at the dying monster. To their surprise, they heard her whimpering to herself in a voice they could barely understand.

“Daddy, why did you leave? Mummy was hungry. She went to market. Where did they go?”

The blood that oozed from Tibea’s mouth was now a vivid red compared to the thick, black, gooey blood that had oozed from the wounds on the worm-like body.

“I ate a rat’s intestines two days ago. I was craving bread. I was hungry.”

Enri looked to Ed, who nodded and finally raised his sword.

“Captain Bosha has saved us! He has defeated the monster!”

Enri turned to the crowd triumphantly, and a deafening roar of cheers echoed through the square.

“Finish her!”

“Kill the foul thing!”

Ed walked up to Tibea.

“I’m scared. Please don’t…”

Seeing Tibea trembling in fear, the people became furious. What kind of trick was this? After what she did to their husbands, wives, and children!

“Finish her! Kill her!” they clamored.

Ed looked into Tibea’s eyes. His heart pounded in his chest. Ygraine’s words echoed in his ears.

“Captain Bosha. Please be everyone’s hope.”

Ed knew how Ygraine would have acted if she were here. Ygraine told him to be the hope of all. He laid his sword on the ground and walked over to where Tibea lay cowering, her yellow eyes flickering with fear.

“I’m sorry I took so long,” he said softly.

It was as though Lutea and Ygraine were both speaking through him.

Tibea blinked hard and stared at Ed’s face.

“I’ve been waiting.”

With that, Tibea coughed hard and spat something out of her mouth.