Ikigai: Book 1: Tragedy's Beginning

::3rd Person POV:: How? How could I have let this happen?! She watched as the flames of war engulfed the innocents of my village. The shrieks from the villagers echoed through the night sky, the ashes that mixed with both debris and corpse filled the air. The smell of burning blood collided with the stench of dark magic. Drake. She was frozen in shock. Her body was fueled with hatred, not towards what was expected, but towards herself. I let this happen. This is MY fault! "Aery!" Reality snapped back into her thoughts. That voice... "Ricko?" I turned to look behind me. Her knight, her protector, her best friend, was dragging on towards her, he was seriously wounded and he utilized his sword to keep his balance. "You can't give up, Aery! We need you!" he barely managed to say. He was silently gasping for air, blood dripped from his mouth as he slowly made his way towards me. I ran to him and embraced his body. His body was beginning to turn cold, he had lost so much blood. He was hurt, she didn't know what to do. "Ricko! Wh-" Before she could speak, she felt her flesh tear. The burning pain surged through her body as she looked down. A spear pierced through her abdomen. A dark aura embalmed the weapon and, although the pain was raging, she felt a cold chill take over her body. "AERY!!" Aery spat out blood and the spearhead twisted and pulled back. The barbs widened and she was forcefully yanked away from Ricko. She could not escape it and Aery instinctively held onto the shaft so she would not be ripped apart by the impact of the pull. She fell into the chest of a man. He had red demonic eyes, fangs that shown no mercy, and an insignia of the Dark Lord was pinned onto his black cloak. His long crimson red hair represented the deaths of those he had killed. He possessed 5 dark stars tattooed onto his forearm. Aery began to struggle as he leaned down and whispered into her ear. "What's the matter, princess?" he bent lower, "Where are your heroes now?" He let out a menacing laugh and then pushed onto her back and pulled his spear with the other. The barbs etched into her skin and Aery screamed in pain. The agony was so intense she writhed regretfully, causing more torn tendons to her rib cage. The loss of blood began to cause fatigue, and she could feel her strength leaving her body. "Abbadon." Aery gritted her teeth. "How pathetic..." Abbadon scoffed, "Did you really think you could escape your fate? Silly maggot." In a flash of light Aery saw blood splatter, but it wasn't her blood. "Don't you ever touch her!" Ricko spat as he slashed off Abbadon's hand that was pushing onto Aery's back. She could hear Abbadon screaming in pain. Ricko utilized his speed boost to get to her. He tried to regain footing but as he turned around he was gutted by Abbadon's fist. The air in his lungs escaped and his body trembled from the shock. Abaddon's spear still latched onto Aery's body began to float. She could feel the aura engulfing her being. She could not move, she couldn't fight back. Abbadon smirked. "Do you really think you stand a chance against me?" Abbadon whispered to Ricko, "You maggots are all the same." "D-don't talk to h-" he tried to speak, but felt the overwhelming brute force of Abbadon's fist. Ricko's body was hurled into the air and was thrown 100 feet away! Ricko's body tumbled. Every time it did, he felt the rocks cut through his skin and the gravel digging into his palms as he tried to stop the momentum. I can't... I can't let it end like this! Ricko switched his focus over to Aery, who's body was hanging from Abbadon's spear. Her eyes were barely alive, her body no longer able to move. Her blood dripped to the floor. Aery... Abbadon snapped his fingers and his dismembered hand regenerated. Ricko could not believe it! He had given all his strength into slicing it off and it just reappeared at his command! In a blink of an eye Abbadon appeared right beside Ricko. "Rule number one about combat," he pierced his gaze into Ricko's, "... never lose your focus on the enemy." Ricko felt a blade s***h against his right eye. Ricko fell back and pressured his eye. His body reacted with fear and pain, his eyesight diminished and then his next breath, it disappeared. "Aaaaaahhhhh!" Ricko writhed in agony. "Music to my ears." Abbadon hummed. He laughed and then spit onto Ricko's face, "Die worthless maggot." Ricko shut his eye. I lost. I- I'm sorry. He apologized in thoughts to Aery. Don't be... Ricko opened his eyes and he was surrounded by darkness. Abbadon was no longer there, there was nothing, except a glowing figure. Aery's spirit spoke to him, You haven't lost, this is not your fate. Ricko felt tears building up as the spirit kelt down to meet his eye, he felt the warmth of her hand glide along his cheek. Never be sorry, Ricko... "Aery..." he whispered, "I've failed you, I- I wasn't strong enough!" She gently formed a smile, But you came for me, and that is all that matters. I'll take it from here, now sleep. W-wait... Ricko began to feel his body relax and his pain and fear subsided. The darkness loomed in, his conscience was overcome. He then faded out into darkness. We will see each other someday Ricko. Don't give up! ::Aery's POV:: There has been too much bloodshed that was committed. The evil that conquered the land of the Herolians still threatens the upkeep of the balance. But despite that... there was one thing that mattered the most to me. "Ricko..." My fingertips began to twitch as I fought to retrieve my strength to move. I saw at a distance Abbadon gripping onto Ricko's collar. Ricko was not responsive. My heart pounded against my chest, he hurt Ricko! The light of my soul is leaving this mortal world. I have to protect him! My aura fought back the darkness of Abbadon's spear. The magic faded as I gently repositioned myself with stable footing. Abbadon turned to me with disgust on his face. "You're not dead yet?!" he snarled. He let go of Ricko, who fell to the ground and did not respond. I had cast a sleeping spell before my soul's departure. I only had a little time left. My body was not going to endure much further. I could feel my heartbeat beating less, beating slower. I managed to grab onto the spear. I pulled with the strength I had barely accumulated. Despite more blood gushing out of my being, I then pointed the spear towards the General of Darkness. "You have caused an imbalance to the world we live in..." I could barely have the words leave my throat, "You have hurt the innocent and blighted the lands I protect." I began to summon my elemental power of wind. The air whirled from my palms and projected the weapon forward. "I will not allow you to live anymore!" I yelled. Abbadon's spear was hurled towards him at extreme speed. Before he could react, his chest was penetrated by his own weapon. The weapon seeped of light as it entered his body. The demon squirmed and tried to break free. His blood was as black as the night, the souls that he stole escaped his body. He began to solidify. "Tchhh," he scoffed, "You know as long as He exists I cannot faulter." Abbadon smirked, "I'll be seeing you very soon and I will make sure he doesn't live the next time we meet. I promise you that." His body fully solidified, leaving a daunting expression. That menacing grin will haunt me for the rest of my life. I limped on over towards Ricko's body, I felt my magic leaving trying to join in with my soul. I have to reach him, I have to save him... My legs soon gave out and I fell to my knees. I crawled onward. My knees dropped and I had to drag myself. I could feel my body begin to stiffen. I reached out my hand. I was too far from him! I can't make it... My tears formed with anguish. I won't be able to see him again. I- cannot s-save h..." As I felt the darkness of death taking over, I silently prayed to see him again.