Memories of the Forgotten

Hello again. Yup, it's me, bringing to you another chapter. So let's get on with the show!

Chapter 23


It was late at night, the moon's light fading as it cast it's ever shrinking glow on the world beneath it. The night of the new moon was rapidly closing, as soon no trace of the nightly orb could be seen, and darkness would be at it's prime power. But the lateness of the hour did not matter inside the warm cave, a soft fire slowly dying out and remains of a meal long since finished now neatly placed for cleaning.

A loud echoing sound could be heard throughout the cave, as it's sole occupant was wildly thrusting with a blade, sweat dripping off her tired body, yet still pushing for more. She parried an invisible attack before the blade had been thrust foward again, apparently through the neck of her 'opponent'. Letting the blade fall from her hand, she quickly reached for a cloth that had been dipped in some cool water before applying it to her heated skin. She gave a sigh of contempt as the cold water soothed her hot flesh before letting the cloth set again. Taking the blade, she began to make her way out to the cave's entrence.

Beyond the feeble light of her campfire, the majority of the cave was dark. Heading into the mouth of the cave, she noticed that snow had recently piled up and, wearing only some snug battle armor, set forth into the awaiting mass of white. The cold air bit at her, but she paid it no mind, being more thankful it was not snowing now in the dead of night. Otherwise she would have reconsidered her task.

It had been a rather LONG time since Karin had gone down from her mountain perch to the nearby towns. She had long since isolated herself from human contact several years ago, rarely coming down from her cave where she now spent most of her days. After all, training to keep up her strength as a powerful swordsmaster required concentration of the highest order. At least, that's what she thought.

She had not taken more then ten steps away from the entrence of the cave before she stopped. She didn't turn around, but instead raised her blade up. "Why are you here?"

"Heh, ever the clever one..."

"What happened to you? Your fighting aura is... much darker then usual, Midas."

Midas smiled, slightly withdrawing his two daggers. "Let's just say... I've finally seen the truth about my abilities." With that he lunged foward, both blades out and ready to strike fatal blows. Karin spinned quickly, raising her blade to stop the attack. Both of them pressed against each other, hoping to disarm the other, before pulling back. "Still keeping up I see. How nice. But your techniques won't work on me. Not anymore."

Midas charged again, Karin responding quickly with her sword against the assault. Midas quickly swung his body around, slashing with his left blade which forced Karin to step back to aviod the blow. Keeping with his momentium, Midas brought his foot up which arced before striking his opponent in the side. Karin grit her teeth as the force of the kick nearly knocked her off balance. Gripping his foot, she hoped to break it with a twist, but a blast of wind energy knocked her backwards.

"Never thought you'd sink so low Midas..." She said, getting up as she noticed his hand lowering. "Even though you always had that magical ability over me, you never once used it to your advantage."

"Hpmh. That was because back then I was soft and weak..." Midas smiled before raising his blades once more. "But that old Midas is gone. What stands before you is the new and improved version."

"Yeah well, if you ask me I like the old one better. What happened to you? You were never like this."

"Well, get used to it," he said in a manecing tone. "The Midas you knew is dead! Wind Bomb!" Karin jumpped out of the way as the concentrated blast struck the ground where she had been standing, but the force of the impact was what knocked her off her feet as snow and bits of dirt had been blasted skyward. "How's that for real power? With my new strength, I will better serve my master... and he will forgive me for my temporary... disloyalty."

Karin noticed the way he sounded as his final word. His voice had wavered if only for a moment, as though he feared something that couldn't seen, but felt around them that would strike them down without hesitation. However his voice remained strong as ever as he spoke again. "Now you see, why my dark powers have returned? It's because I let them. And it was the greatest thing I could ever have done."

"Midas... what monster did this to you? To whom did you sell your will to?"

"My will... was a mistake. I was always and now forever shall be, Mammon's faithful servent."

Karin backed away. "Mammon? But... no that's just a legend!"

Midas laughed, and a chill ran down Karin's spine. Something was definately wrong, she was certain and it concerned Midas. She had known him for so long, and for him to turn like this so suddenly... No, this is nothing like what Midas is... I guess I really have no choice... With that thought in mind, she steadied herself, bringing forth her inner energy.

While Midas had his own magic talents, Karin had developed something all her own. She had reasoned that while magic was mostly that concerned a bloodline trait, it had to be channeled in some way. This channeling agent was something that Karin called 'Chi'. And while people like Midas and John used this power in the form of magic, Karin had found a way to unlock a more 'raw' version of it.

As Karin charged her Chi, the sword in her hands glowed a soft green color. "What is that?" Midas said surprised.

"Like it Midas? I've been saving this technique for a long time now..." Now it was Karin's turn to feel confident, although she knew she was bluffing somewhat. The truth was, this was her first time ever trying something like this, but if it worked out now, then it was a starting point to build upon. "It's a brand new move even you don't know about."

"Hah! You can't scare me!" Midas retorted, but it was no longer full of the same confidence from before, something Karin also noticed.

"Then take this!" Karin rushed foward, gripping the blade tightly with both hands as she jumpped up and was ready bring the blade down. "Soul Crush!" Midas raised his own blade to counter the attack, the sound of clashing metal echoing into the night. That sound however, was almost instantly drowned out at what happened next.

The moment the two blades crashed came a deafening noise, neither could describe. Less then a few moments later, the Chi energy burst forth from Karin's blade, sending both of them into opposite directions, as if they were caught in the blast of an explosion. Karin landed in the snow, which was soft and absorbed most of the force. Midas however was blown back into the cave, his body striking the stone floor repeatedly. Karin was able to get up, though very slowly as the attack had used up alot of her energy. Midas, she noticed, hadn't moved at all.

"Damn... that was way more power then I expected." She tenderly walked to the mouth of the cave, where she could see Midas' body laying face-down on the ground. Believing her victory had come, she let go of her blade and leaned against the wall for support.

That's when she heard laughing.

Softly at first, yet it grew in volume as it echoed throughout the cave, coming from Midas. She could clearly make out his chest rising and falling in laughter as he slowly got up to his feet and brushed off some dust from his clothes. "Well well, it seems I have clearly underestimated you Karin. To think you would be capable of such power..." He turned around and Karin could see the wild look in his eyes, something that seemed too inhuman to even guess where it might have come from. "But all for naught it seems."

He took a step foward, and Karin noticed that his blades had never even left his hands. She was panicing now, as she hardly had any strength left to fight, but less pick up her own weapon to defend herself.

"I will take great pleasure in this..."

"Midas."

Karin was wide eyed as she saw the person behind Midas. She could sense his own aura, yet it was completely different from that of Midas. This was a demon, one that she had never seen before.

"I am busy here. What is it Hieas."

Hieas gave a frown, silently noting that he seemed to be speaking in more of a commanding tone. "Our presence is requested. I was sent to fetch you."

Midas gave a shrug as if to say 'Whatever' and turned to face the newcomer. He walked to his side, before tilting his head to get one last look at her. "You get off easy this time..." With that, they both vanished.

Karin left her sword on the ground too weak to pick it up. She staggered into the cave, her feet unbalanced as she desperately tried not to fall. She was uncertain how she had reached her camp, but at the moment it really didn't matter. Falling onto her cot, she let blissful sleep take her.