Road to Valhalla

Chapter 10: Ninurta and Azag

We saw Halen burn. The closer we got to it, the clearer the screams and sounds of collapsing got and the more they intensified, the more the hope of salvation faded away. The barracks was mostly vacant too, people who had been too afraid to go back to Halen, had finally taken the plunge to make final attempts for saving their hometown.

Once again, I lagged behind Chopper, watching his strong back. Somehow his sense of justice and morality came off to me as very raw and coarse. I don't think I could perfectly agree with many of his decisions.

"Chopper-san", once we stood outside Halen, watching it burn, I asked, "was this the only way?"

"No", he looked unfazed, "but this was the fastest."

"Then what you said back there...do you really not care at all?"

"Yeah. Selfishness isn't a sin but it is worth fighting against. There's a chance that none of this needed to happen but the collateral damage is too much to ignore. Sometimes avoiding trouble isn't an answer."

"What about Eso and grandfather?!"

"They'll be okay. Most of the people would make it out alive and safe. After all, why do you think I let Emir be taken? That was a signal for the rest of them. They knew if Emir doesn't make the delivery, Halen is doomed. If he didn't return, well, might as well make a run for it", Chopper went on, "If Halen keeps sneaking spies into Ildia, that would mean Ildia didn't even get a chance at all. That's not a fair battle. You shouldn't look gloomy about it. You can't save everyone, Seraph."

I wanted to tell him that I know. I mean why wouldn't I? But knowing that doesn't make it any easier. We spared Halen a parting glance and then Chopper led the way.

We travelled silently until Halen was out of sight, Chopper showed no signs of slowing down. It was easy enough for me to keep walking because I felt no pain whatsoever. I wondered if we'd run into Wolfe on the way. A part of me hoped it would happen. Perhaps then, Chopper would have talked about him too. But we this route was new. We never ran into Wolfe.

In two days, we barely rested at all. When we laid eyes on a town, the sun was coming up. From the distance, it looked like a peaceful, silent town but the closer we got to it, an eerie sensation crept over and I knew something was wrong here.

We walked into the vacant town and kept walking straight.

"Isn't this where we were supposed to arrive?"

"Yes. This is it", Chopper replied.

"Well...it looks empty, Chopper-san. Are you sure?"

"It's not empty", he answered briefly.

I took this chance to look around closely and noticed that he was indeed right. The place was actually full of skulls and bones. They were just laying there bare and carefree. At first, I was spooked but just barely. I'm not one to be scared by ghosts and such.

"Chopp-", I was about to ask him about the skeletons when he bust open a door to a house.

He walked in, as if knowing nothing was there to stop him.

"Chopper-san!", I followed him.

"Look Seraph, there's food. It's not too old. A week...that's about it."

"You mean someone was here? A traveler maybe?"

"No, look at the table over there", and so I looked and noticed three bony people dead in their chairs.

"But how is it possible? Is it some sort of spirit land...maybe?"

"Well those aren't too different, are they? Actually they are. But no, these are just bones without any spirits."

We went outside again and began walking toward the tallest building in town, a church.

On our way, Chopper stopped and examined some of the skeletons.

"They've all got a hole in their skulls, right in the middle of their forehead. It's Fennerick's work after all."

"Have you met this Fennerick?", I asked.

"Yes...perhaps. But just barely."

"How did he do this? Exactly what is he?"

"That's a story to behold, Seraph. As I imagined, there never was a cult nor a plague. Fennerick is a soul eater. His real name is Azag, though I doubt that explains a lot of things for you. But that explains why they call him a demon. Some people used to believe the center of the forehead was the gateway to soul. So as you can see, Fennerick is making his job quick. We should look around and find out where he went."

"Uh...wait, hold on. A soul eater? That's not real, is it?"

"And why not? Just look around."

"Well then how are we supposed to fight him?"

"Who knows...but we have to find him before he finishes his three month ritual this time."

"Ritual?"

"You ask so many questions, what are you, a kid? Move it now, I'll tell you on the road."

And thus we began once more towards the church. I realized it was more a town hall than a church as we got closer to it.

"In ancient times, there was a doctor who healed people through his knowledge of agriculture and hunting. Some say he was so great at healing, people started to revere him as god. They built temples in his name and deified him. His name was Ninurta. That's how his legend goes anyway."

Chopper remained silent for a while which made me question if there was more to the story.

"So who is this Ninurta?"

"Ninurta? Just a peasant."

"What?"

"Ninurta was just a fool. The truth is largely hidden because people like heroes. It is said that a demon named Azag began poisoning the rivers and tormenting the villages in his time. Ninurta defeated Azag in battle. Azag's stone army was crushed and Ninurta built the villages with the stone they had left behind. Then Ninurta returned home as a hero and people praised him as their warrior deity."

"And that's how the optimistic story rolls. In reality, Ninurta summoned Azag with a promise that he failed to fulfill. Azag was angered and cursed Ninurta. Azag's anger deformed so much of the Earth, Ninurta had to offer himself in return for the survival of humans. Azag inhabited Ninurta from that day on. The one that was deified was Ninurta but he was an agricultural deity. The true warrior deity was Azag. He inhabited Ninurta and slept for three years and then fed for three months. Azag kept getting stronger and Ninurta remained a hero. But then Ninurta gave his life to rid the world of Azag. He was wrong. Azag remained behind in some form, far too weak but he remained. And all he wants is to obtain his original form and for that he feeds on human souls, just doing a demon's work as he should."

"Then Fennerick is the new vessel?"

"Yeah. There was no plague. It was Azag hidden in the river that killed Fennerick's village and Fennerick died with all the rest of his people. That day, it was Azag that lived but someone from among the villagers must have summoned him. Perhaps Fennerick himself. In any case, that doesn't matter anymore. What we need to do is put an end to that demon for good."

We were standing in front of that townhall now and one look at Chopper told me whatever was beyond that gate wasn't very welcoming. I prepared myself in my heart. Lady's words rang through me.

"Times when you don't think you are capable of anything, times when others look so miserable and yet so strong, for them and for their history, you are there. To write their story, to hear them and to stand watch, you are Seraph."