Long Story | The Centaur

— What are you doing, Silk?! Get back here immediately!

— Don't worry, old man!

The battle was beginning to get fiercer, the troops from the south were advancing quickly to the rivers near the citadel leaving behind a mark of blood from the different soldiers killed in the battle. One way or another we had to win this or the kingdom would lose an important part of control over the continent.

I quickly crossed the walls and snatched a bow from one of the soldiers of the kingdom, I had to hurry or we would be cornered.

— Centaurs follow me!

War was one of those spaces for which I was most prepared. Our lineage had traversed for generations a great variety of lands in the name of the king, so we had always been trained for this purpose, today the generation of centaurs who served the palace was commanded by me, being considered the strongest and fastest team of the entire royal army, it was time to show what we were made of.

— Gael, Zefora! Slide through the west wing of the forest and cause a fire near the enemy troops, we will go with the rest directly to where their commander is, we must take advantage that they are advancing and have left their camp neglected.

— At your service, commander!

— Let's go!

The enemy troops continued to advance to the citadel, already began to cross the river and were less than a kilometer away from the place. If we didn't hurry, it was going to be difficult to win the battle and make the troops retreat. All that remained was to find the leader of that army and stop him or perhaps assassinate him.

— There is a clearing ahead, Silk

— I want everyone to be prepared. When the order rains arrows.

— Yes, sir.

The thickness of the forest began to open up letting see a small space without weeds in front in which he could observe a small tent and few soldiers around. None of them had a shield so it would be easy to finish them off.

— Well centaurs, Gael and Zefora must be about to burn the forest, when that happens and the soldiers are distracted I want them to shoot the arrows immediately, I will enter the tent as quickly as possible and face the general direction.

There was no shortage of time to wait. The fire was beginning to make its way through the forest and the few soldiers ran in its direction leaving the rear free for our attack.

— Fire!

The arrows flew and fell like a storm ending instantly with about 20 soldiers and freeing the way for my troops. I ran to the tent with my bow in hand and next to Ctu we ambushed three men who drew their swords next to a large strategy table.

— Drop your weapons now.

— We never thought the centaurs would continue to serve the realm.

— Why should we not be?

— They do not know what Centaurs do...

— Defend the kingdom.

— You don't understand...

The three men dropped their weapons and surrendered to our strategy, yet there was something strange about the subject's countenance. The anguish was observed in his gaze beyond the thirst to conquer new lands, in fact, when the kingdom informed us that the army of the city of Flames was attacking us it seemed to us a complete madness. For years, both nations had remained at peace carrying out trade treaties of great importance, all motivated by the mystical union that existed between the guardians of both places, but for a few nights the movements of their navy had been strange and the various letters sent by the palace of Scarlet Moon had not been answered leaving little time for thought and leading the discussion to a sudden war.

— Why is Flames' army looking to take over our land?

— I cannot answer that.

— Do you want to wipe out the palace?

— I cannot answer that.

— Has something happened to the fire guardian?

— . . .

The man's face suddenly changed and that hunch of anguish was true. Something was happening in the Kingdom of Flames, something beyond his own control.

— Take them, Ctu. Blow the horn and inform the army that this battle is over.

The men did not put up any kind of resistance and it took little for all the enemy troops to surrender when they saw their general trapped, yet the same look was beginning to be seen on the faces of those men. A look of unhappiness and unusual affliction.

— Silk aside!

Ctu pushed me quickly, just before the fire opened and burned the bodies of those three men leaving only ashes.

— What is that?!

The fire continued to expand and change shape into a large bird. The same one, after finishing with the general and his two landowners went beyond the river and wrapped in fire each one of the soldiers of the army of Flames.

— What is that Phoenix doing here?!

— He is one of the sacred beasts of the realm of Flames...

— Come on, Commander!

— No! Observe...

The Phoenix flew high creating a rain of fire, one by one the Flames soldiers were reduced to ashes, with such a creature, that army could have easily ended us but why destroy their own army? Something strange was happening in that distant place.

Chapter II: Decisions.

— I request to see Tyrus.

The palace was crowded with people: court personnel, paladins, soldiers, and other members of the circle of power of the high aristocracy. The commotion caused by what had happened a few days ago was completely impressed and the state of alertness was at its highest level.

— Commander Silk, the master is...

— Now!

Apparently, the guardian of our land was busy in the sanctuary, but my visit deserved a prompt response, it was something I could not expect.

— Send him in!

A voice was heard on the other side of the large paved doors with symbols of life and light and after a few seconds, they opened before me.

— Please step forward...

I walked to the interior of the sanctuary and after crossing a long corridor I observed the celestial light of the great crystal that kept in its interior the Angel of Light, a mystical creature of our nation.

— Young Silk, to what do you owe your intrusion?

— Master...

I bowed before the imposing presence of Master Tyrus, guardian of life and personal advisor to the kingdom.

— Don't worry about formalities. Will you travel to Flames?

— Something strange is happening in those master lands.

The wisdom of that man went beyond any understanding, he was able to know the facts of the present, past and future in an incredible way and his power had functioned as a shield able to protect the kingdom and expand beyond the entire continent.

— Flames have been one of our greatest allies for generations, even your species has been a part of it, however, there is something that interferes with the natural course of things and is attempting to generate a great war.

— Do you think Jarlax...?

— It may be the root of the problem, as we may be witnessing an inexplicable fact.

— Let me go, master...

— You've already chosen your path, there's nothing I can tell you that you don't know.

— I appreciate your help.

I bowed again and tried to leave the palace as soon as possible. If Jarlax was behind this we should act as soon as possible.

— Young Silk. This journey will represent a complete change in your life, in which fear, anger, and sadness will try to overwhelm you. Do not let your spirit die before the clutches of evil.

The words seemed a bit confusing at first but if the great master was right he must be careful on this journey.

— Silk? What is it?

Gael approached me by surprise watching the horizon from the fortified walls of the palace. The journey would begin in a couple of hours and it was necessary to have everything prepared, however, rather than worry about the journey, I was concerned about the idea that Jarlax might be behind all this.

Only 15 years ago we learned of the death of the guardian of the earth and it was only 5 years since the appearance of the new guardian named Lyanna, since then the troops of death began to take shape and Zintar had been appearing in many places on the continent. If they were able to finish with the guardian of the fire or even worse, to seize it, we do not know in how long we would be able to see a new guardian and to restore order between our nations and beyond, the natural balance of things.

— We will depart in one hour, enlist the centaurs.

We centaurs were one of the many species that made life with humans, creatures that for generations swore to serve the different guardians and that therefore we had approached this species somewhat inferior to our physical capacities and that in spite of aging much faster than we were capable of, they brought with them the same feeling of protection and love for life as we know it, learning from each one of its errors and always seeking prosperity. It was imperative to take care of them and more with several guardians born among their own.

Chapter III: Malric Inferno.

The realm of Flames was smaller than the realm of the Scarlet Moon, yet its troops were as vast and strong as ours and a war between the two nations was impossible to think of. The night covered our arrival and from the hill, we could watch as many soldiers prepared to depart somewhere.

— Do you think they will attack again?

— I don't know Ctu.

Unlike our palace, the castle of Flames was known as "the gateway to the underworld", its size was small but inside a variety of staircases and passageways with all kinds of creatures led whoever entered it to a terrain of fire and underground lava. All in order to keep the keeper of the fire safe.

— We cannot waste time fighting here Ctu, I want the troops to go directly to the realm, be stealthy.

— What will you do?

— I want to speak directly to Malric.

— You cannot surrender Silk!

— Do not worry about me. I know everyone will be nearby. Go, that is an order.

Ctu's face didn't seem very convinced, even Gael and Zefora seemed somewhat worried about my decision, however, if the prediction of the great master Tyrus was true I could not allow my family to be taken away from me.

I handed my armament to the team and they left right away. In the meantime, I walked straight along the main path and watched as several soldiers were surprised by my presence and drew their weapons.

— Stop right there! Who are you?

— I am the Silk commander of the Scarlet Moon kingdom, the master Tyrus sends me to your kingdom.

I bowed and waited with closed eyes for the approval of those soldiers. If my decision was correct they would let me pass, otherwise, I should run and fight for my life and give others time to enter the palace.

— Let it pass.

In the darkness of the night, a winged creature flew high before the Flames soldiers and me.

— Long time no see Silk.

— Caler had already done enough...

Caler was one of the commanders of the kingdom of Flames, a winged sphinx that after spending millennia touring the world, managed to settle there and become part of the army of the south as one of the most brilliant strategists and sorceresses in the world. Physically she was very similar to the centaurs, except of course that on her back they have big wings and her fur was more extravagant.

— What's going on, Caler?

— Follow me Silk...

The guards lowered their weapons and Caler escorted me through the interior of the city until I reached the palace, there, a strange sensation invaded my body and anxiety was present inside me.

— How long since you came here?

— A long time...

— Things have changed a little.

— Why do they not reply to the letters from the realm? We have sent messengers but none receive the king's reply.

—- We cannot do such a thing at this time.

— And why did Caler attack us?! Isn't there an alliance between our kingdoms?! Nevertheless... the Phoenix killed his own people! What are you playing at?!

— Silk...

— I want answers!

I was full of anger and Caler, being the commander of that army did nothing but dodge my questions and remain silent in front of them. Whatever was happening I was about to find out. The doors of the sanctuary of fire opened in front of me and a wave of heat came from inside that place.

— Please come in. Malric is waiting.

I observed Caler's gaze, there was something in his eyes that invited me to leave and never return, however, I had to enter, I had to discover what was happening once and for all even if it meant losing my life.

The stairs were so wide that they allowed easy travel to the deepest corners of the castle. Although I had previously been in that kingdom, I had never had the opportunity to reach into the sanctuary. What seemed like an honor left me with a deep feeling of incomparable concern.

— Come closer, centaur.

The voice echoed through the fire around me and an extravagant laughter was heard behind it.

— What brings you to this sanctuary?

After descending other stairs of lesser amplitude I reached the main room of that place, surrounded by a purple glow where various hooded creatures of perhaps shamanic character placed their corners giving the feeling that some kind of ritual was going to happen, anyway I was alert. Malric was there and his figure, unlike the guardian of life, was composed of a reddish skin and a growing fire that came from his arms, head, and waist. Undoubtedly his figure was imposing and completely opposite to that of a human being.

— Master guardian of fire, I have come from the lands of light to implore answers to the sudden war.

I bowed and waited for that old master to explain to me whatever was happening, perhaps by speaking to him, the king of Flames would stop his troops from advancing.

— I appreciate your journey and your despair, yet destiny brings with it the expansion of our realm into new lands and new horizons.

— What is he talking about?

— For years this kingdom has served as a simple merchant kingdom where all cities have used our land and what have we gained? Nothing!

The voice of the keeper of the fire was full of enormous anger, it was completely strange to see how a being so wise and committed to the mission of protecting the world was now hostile and dissonant.

— But master prosperity depends on the union between our lans, if this simply disappears.

— Silence!

The fire around me exploded and I had to bend my head so as not to be incinerated by those flames.

— The rules must change! Our world must take a complete turn and embark on a new mission, it is time for the light to be brought through the fire.

— Why did the Phoenix murder his own people?

— It was necessary. Those useless... Unable to end up with a simple citadel!

— Do not bathe our master land Malric in blood!

A grotesque laughter slipped from the lips of that old guardian and a chill ran down my back at the sound of those screams, almost seeming to come from a completely different person.

— Who are you?

The question furrowed my lips without even thinking about it for a second. Something told me that someone else was behind all this.

— Ha ha ha ha ha! Centaurs, so observant... they disgust me.

Malric's laughter became more and more grotesque and left between seeing a reflection of another personality, it was as if someone was possessing him.

«blockquote>"That man is not the young master Malric Silk..."

— Mr. Tyrus?

The voice of the guardian of life resounded in my head and I could feel its presence wrapping around me.

«blockquote>"Watch him carefully..."

His gaze was completely dark and distant and around him a strange almost imperceptible aura was present, giving a strange shape to the essence of the guardian.

— Jarlax?

I got up quickly and observed the ghostly figure behind Malric. From his grotesque claws hung small threads which made the guardian move as if it were a puppet.

— Your whole species is as repugnant as the damned elves and humanity itself.

I tried to flee from that place but those shamans closed the way.

— Where are you going?

— Darkness will never conquer Jarlax!

— Don't be so sure of that...

A second staircase appeared behind Malric and one by one I saw the centaurs enter the room, fifteen in all.

— Silk!

— Gael! Ctu! Zefora!

— You think I wasn't going to notice their interference?

— Let us go at once!

We were completely trapped, with no way out and no support to help us, but Malric was surrounded by various shamans and the fire in his own land, it was impossible to face him and get out unharmed.

— Are you the first force of the Scarlet Moon army? Pathetic!

The guardian glanced over the faces of each of my companions and smiled as he observed some terrifying faces.

— Bam!

The fire covered the body of one of my companions, burning his body, destroying every part of his being, reducing, between screams and screams, to a heap of ashes.

— Stop!

— Bam!

A second scream was present and I observed another one of my companions wrapped in fire, the same situation, the same fateful end.

— Leave them alone!

— With this power, it is very easy to finish off an entire army.

The laughter of that guardian resounded all over the place, Ctu fell to the ground and his tears furrowed his face when he saw his sister Odeza disappear before his eyes.

— Leave them all alone!

— Or what?! What can a simple centaur do!

Anger took hold of me but I was right, there was nothing a centaur could do against the strength of a guardian. It was impossible to face that fact and my eyes were filled with pain when I saw each one of my companions disappear, each one of the members of my family.

— Let's see... there are only four left. Who did young Silk end up with first? I will give you the honor of choosing!

— Enough, Master Malric! React!

— Touching, but useless.

Malric was completely immersed in the control of Jarlax, it was not he who spoke, it was the voice of the dead who was present.

— Silk...

Gael looked at me smiling, tears crossed his face but his essence was calm.

— No matter what happens, we will always be with you.

— Gael...

— Quiet! Quiet!

The fire appeared immediately and Gael was gone in an instant.

— Gael!

Jarlax laughed non-stop and enjoyed pulling the strings to control Malric, it was a never-ending game and represented the beginning of the end for the future as we knew it. I just had to close my eyes and wait for the end.

«blockquote>"Don't give up Silk."

— Let's see... there are only three centaurs left. Who will be next?

Jarlax's gaze was fixed on Ctu who was not yet out of his state of shock. He took Odeza's ashes and swirled them in front of him trying to recreate her in some way.

— You will be an unhappy worm...

— Stop!

A ball of fire hit Malric's body and Jarlax looked in his direction.

— You dare betray me?!

Caler was right on the main stairs and was facing the shamans of that sanctuary.

— Silk get out of here!

— Caler! But...

— There's no time! The temple is going to flood!

A huge shake moved the sanctuary and the water began to flow from the upper floors extinguishing the fire and turning the hot magma into solid rock.

— What the hell is going on?!

Malric tried to cover himself in order to avoid the blow of the water, thus making Jarlax lose for a few moments total control over that entity. Meanwhile, Zefora helped Ctu to get up to escape from that place.

— Come on, Silk!

The sanctuary was about to give way and it was imperative to leave as soon as possible.

— Damn mortals!

A blast of fire was fired and reached Ctu's body.

— Ctu!

— Silk! No time!

Ctu's hind legs were scorched preventing him from walking freely. As I approached Zefora beckoned me with her hand and blocked the way to him.

— There is no time Silk...

— But Zefora, Ctu is...

— You must return to the Scarlet Moon as soon as possible... do it for us.

Zefora had long been in love with Ctu, even now, she could not imagine leaving him there, in the darkness of that place after the shrine collapsed. I did not want to leave him there, I did not want to return alone to the Scarlet Moon, I had lost each of my companions and had been unable to do anything.

— You must hurry, Silk!

Caler continued to fight with different creatures to defend us but his magic would have a limit and we should leave as soon as possible.

— I will find a way to fix everything, boys...

— I know you'll be fine, Silk.

— Zefora!

— Live for us!

The glow of fire covered the bodies of Ctu and Zefora, Caler managed to get me out in time from that place to the main hall of the palace where various elemental spirits faced the remaining creatures that slipped through the palace.

— Zefora...

— It's too late to be sorry, Silk.

The shrine collapsed completely and with it all trace of my companions had disappeared leaving behind the existence of the fire guardian as well.

— What are all these elementals doing here?

The palace was covered by spirits from our kingdom and in turn by beings from the waters.

— Alric, the water guardian and Malric's brother knew from the beginning that something strange was going on and contacted Master Tyrus to plan an ambush. It was too late to explain it, it happened very quickly.

— Jarlax was behind all this...

— Jarlax?

— Yes.

It was difficult to deduce that he was looking for Jarlax with accuracy, but it was obvious that the more blood he spilled the easier it would be for him to obtain greater soldiers for his army of death. Malric, my companions, and the entire Flames realm had fallen victim to his plan.

— What will you do now?

— I must return to the Scarlet Moon.

— King Kobold will agree to support your army if necessary once you explain the entire situation to him.

— Take care of that, Caler.

I walked to the palace gates and picked up a golden bow that shone through the rubble.

— I must leave at once for the Scarlet Moon, things can get out of control.

For the first time I had in my hands a firm goal to fulfill. Jarlax had taken everything I knew as a family, leaving me cornered in an endless labyrinth full of emotions and sensations that make my tears flow at the gallop of my steps.

From that moment I swore to fight, I swore to live for them, I swore to myself that no matter what would happen, I would continue to carry on high the standard of my species, being the last of the centaurs in the infinity of the world.