Till Death... Do Us Part
I struggled with my desires for weeks after that, yet my killing sprees remained constant. I tried everything I could to restrain myself, but even the deepest meditation was broken by my thirst for death. One fateful day however, I entered the tavern after slaying a few priests at the Cenril church when Kaizer appeared before me. I fell to one knee before my master as he grinned, seeing the blood drip from my weapon and armor into a small puddle on the floor. He was quite pleased at the one-man massacre I had become and offered me my freedom, yet at the gravest of prices. I was given the choice to either remain as I was, or have both my freedom and my soul restored to me. Kaizer warned me though that should I choose my freedom, I could never see or speak to Xaka for all time. I silently cursed his name as I pondered my choice. I was lost either way. Kaizer knew that. I thought of Xaka and what she would wish of me when I finally convinced myself that she would wish for me to choose my soul. At least that would put her heart at ease. If our roles were reversed, I would wish for Xaka to choose the same. I rose to my feet and made my choice. I also told Kaizer that the affairs between us were far from over. My fight with the forces of Hell would never be over and I swore to destroy him. Kaizer laughed and dared me to do just that as he would enjoy each of my future failures immensely. Just as Kaizer was weaving the spell to keep Xaka and I separated, Nelmarious walked into the tavern. In his time as Kaizers slave, he turned his bloodlust towards Kaizer himself at every turn. This of course angered the Avatar greatly. Kaizers attention was immediately drawn to the dwarf as the spell was cut off half way. A bright green light shot from Kaizers palm, striking me in the chest. I was sent sprawling through tables and chairs as Kaizer wrapped his hand around Nelmarious's neck. For his disobedience, Kaizer turned the punishment from me to Nelmarious. Not granting him the choice, Kaizer returned his soul, yet as punishment, Nelmarious was bound to leave the Wolf Pack, never see Roelstra again, and his eyes would be forever stained the blood red they had bore when his soul was first taken from him. As we regained our senses, Kaizer disappeared in a dark cloud of unholy magic.
The Spirits must have smiled upon me that moment. Even though I felt sorry for Nelmarious, I was overjoyed at the fact that I had not had to bear the brunt of that punishment. Finally, the nightmare was over. I was free... and I was whole again. I rushed out the tavern in search of Xaka. When I reached the road, I felt something poke against my chest from inside my breastplate. I reached underneath and pulled out a fair sized egg that bore a slight green tinge to it. As I wondered where it came from, it began to move. I held it in my hand when suddenly, it exploded in a brilliant flash. Averting my eyes from it until it died down, I returned my gaze to find a small fiery bird in my hand. It opened its eyes and looked up as it screeched at me. Confused as I was by this, I decided to keep it. I named it Soulfire and from that day, it was my constant companion.
I found Xaka at the magical gardens of Cenril City. Setting Soulfire in amidst the flora, I sat beside Xaka and smiled at her. She looked into my eyes as her mouth dropped. I guess she saw that my eyes had reverted to their original color. Hugging me tightly, I finally knew true happiness. We talked for hours about many things, mainly about our feelings for each other. I told her that I could not drive a wedge between her and her husband as she smiled sweetly. She then said that her husband had not been seen in the land for quite some time and how she felt abandoned until she had met me. I was truly dumbfounded. All the feelings and restraints I had placed upon myself were for absolutely nothing as I laughed loudly at myself for it. We rose to our feet and began to walk amidst the gardens, only this time... It was hand in hand. Xaka bent down to pick one of the flowers as I looked up at the skies, silently asking if this was the right thing for me. I wondered if I had found what mortals call a soulmate. The answers came in a bright flash as suddenly Sven, high God of Hollow stood before me. He gave no words as he stepped forward and placed something in my hand. With but a nod to us both, he disappeared in a similar flash of light. As Xaka asked me what happened, I looked down to my hand, finding a beautiful diamond engagement ring.
It was all the convincing I needed, even though I was shocked at how blunt my answers were. As Xaka asked me again why Sven had appeared before me, I turned around and kneeled before her. Raising the ring before her, I asked her if she would give me the honor of calling her my wife. She said yes amidst something I had not seen from her before... Tears of joy. I rose again to my feet and placed the ring on her finger as we kissed for the first time. No emotion could describe it. It was so far beyond love that any other emotion can not compare to it. Something landed on my head and tugged at my hair. My lips parted from Xakas as I looked up to find Soulfire making mischief at truly the worst possible time. I chuckled at it as Xaka looked at my new pet oddly. I told her of how I found him as it screeched at her playfully and leapt atop her head hopping up and down playfully. Xaka smiled as we spent the rest of that day... and the following night together. Truly, that was the happiest time of my life, Mortal and beyond.
The next couple months were spent with the highest of hearts, and the widest of smiles. I felt I had all I would ever need in life. It was a happiness that no person could come between. But as all things start... all things must also end. As time passed, I found myself to be angered easily. Soon, I began to lash out at those around me. I vaguely remember nearly killing a newcomer to the land for touching Xaka. He left, never to be seen again after that day as Xaka was in complete embarrassment of my actions. I began thinking of the past and how the forces we raised to fight Kaizer had fled, leaving me to become Kaizers slave. This thought drove me insane. My hatred soon poured out upon the land as yet again, I took up my weapon to the populace of Hollow. My lust for revenge knew no boundaries as I cut down even those new to the land that had no knowledge of what had happened to me. My anger sheared through the land as if I was held again by Kaizer yet this time, he had no influence over me.
It took the brute strength of Nelmarious and the arcane magic of Narelus to keep me at bay. Forcing me into the shrine of the house Xaka and I shared, Nelmarious attempted to talk some sense to me as I crouched like a caged animal in a corner. Gripping my sword tightly, I merely glared at the two. I wanted Nelmarious dead for leaving Xaka and I to face the Avatars alone, and for being the living memory of what I had done in Kaizers grasp. Kaizers grasp... Oh no... Not again.
It seemed that I still bore the taint of evil upon me, even after the events of my last meeting with Kaizer. As I looked at Nelmarious, I realized that yes I was a monster then, but now... now I was even worse because I was free. I stood up and sheathed my weapon as I looked upon the two in front of me. I searched within myself for the strength to fight what was going on within me, but I found none. And Xaka... What will she think when she finds out what I had become? My spirits sank as I found that there was no other fate for me unless something drastic was to happen. Deciding to take matters in my own hands while I was still sane, I looked at Nelmarious and asked a favor. I asked him for my death.
Not one in the land save Nelmarious could have known the tortures I was under, this battle within me had gone on too long, and slowly, I was losing my humanity to it. Seeing this, Nelmarious reluctantly agreed. He drew his axe and stood ready as Narelus began to chant a spell to weaken me should I attack them. I felt the energy in my muscles drain away as I fell to one knee. I couldn't rise up, my body feeling as if I were trying to lift a house. I knelt there as Nelmarious came up behind me. He placed his hand on my shoulder and wished me well in my next life. I did not respond, I simply closed my eyes as I thought " Xaka... I'm sorry..." And with that, the axe of Nelmarious came down upon me, granting me my wish.
