Chapter 217   - Burden to carry

Gary continued to charge forward completely ignoring those behind him. He eventually reached the creature and continued to slash at it with his black sword until the creature eventually fell down to the floor.

It was only then when the creature had died was Gary aware of everything that had happened around him.

Without any hesitation, Berg had jumped in front of Lilly to save her life. It was his duty. As soon as the blood had made contact with Berg's skin, he had died in a matter of seconds, perhaps even before his body had hit the ground.

Lilly stared down at Berg in shock. Berg had been Lilly's guard for as long as she could remember. Even when she stayed at the castle as a kid, Berg had always been there for her. Making sure to protect her from strangers, from bullies, from the outside world and now all of a sudden, he was dead, no more. Lilly wouldn't be able to hear Berg's voice ever again.

Lilly then slowly drew her wand and started walking over to the beast that lied on the ground. She cast a spell and lifted the beast's lifeless body into the air and slammed it into the ground rapidly as she cried in anger.

But no matter what she did she didn't feel any better, she couldn't change the fact that Berg was dead.

"Lenny is there anything you can do?" Lilly asked as she looked at him with her eye's half dead.

Lenny walked over to Berg.

"He is dead, I cannot bring the dead back to life."

Lilly knelt down next to Berg's body and started to groan.

"I'm sorry Lilly..." Gary said.

Lenny came over to Gary and placed his large hand on his shoulder.

"It is not your fault but that of the Shadow plague."

"But I should have listened to you, you were right," Gary said.

"Maybe, but if you hadn't charged forward and slain the creature maybe, even more, would have died and we shall never know."

"But maybe if I did something differently, he wouldn't have died, I could have saved him."

"Don't say those words, Gary," Ray said in a slightly angry voice. "He knew the risks when he joined this mission, we all do. We fight for a reason and people die every day in this world. At least he died protecting someone he cared about. Some don't even get to do that."

"You guys have seen the dangers." Lenny said, "Should we head back?"

"No!" Lilly shouted. "We continue to move forward, this whole trip will not be pointless, if Ray can't defeat the demon man then I will. I swear if it's the last thing I do."

The mood was sombre and in respect for Bergs life, they decided to build a small grave. There wasn't time to take his body back to the city and if they left his body, it would only be eaten by beasts. Jack dug a grave for berg and after placing him underneath.

Ray cut down a large tree and placed it deep into the ground to mark where Berg had been buried. The group prayed for Berg and once they were finished. They continued on their Journey.

The rain started to fall as if to sky knew how they were feeling. During the journey, Gary had remained silent, something that was unusual for him.

He sat hunched on his worse as the death of Berg was a heavy burden for him to carry. He truly believed he had been the cause for it all.

Eve and Mike were struggling with the decision of whether to abandon the quest altogether. Lilly had in fact given that option to them after they had just witnessed the death of someone. She even said she would still pay them.

However, the only thing she couldn't guarantee to them was a safe journey back. If the Little Pond guild was to journey back, they would continue forward meaning no one was there to protect them.?In the end, the fear got the better of them and they decided it was better to stay with the current party then head back on their own.

With Berg gone, the formation had changed slightly with Lenny's suggestion. Lenny, Ray, and Ark would ride at the front. While Lilly would be surrounded by Mike and the archers and finally Gary and Jack would guard the back of the group.

Suddenly, Ray spotted something in the sky with his dragon eyes. It was Purple in colour meaning it was a minion of the shadow plague. The Beast had a long thin head with black wings.

"A Goblin Vulture." Lenny said, "Most likely a spy sent by the Demon man, we must get rid of it."

"Archers it's time for you to act," Lilly commanded.

Each of the archers readied there bow and fired arrows into the air at the creature. The arrows landed well and moments later the Vultures body fell to the ground.

"Hopefully that was the only one," Lenny said.

But then, two more Vultures appeared this time diving straight at Ray and the others. As they came down, they stretched out their claws ready to rip the flesh of its victim. However, the birds were unable to make it even past the first line of defence.

Ray jumped from his horse and punched both of the vulture??s body out of the air and onto the ground. They had died in an instant.

"No, they were far too weak," Lenny said. "The worst is yet to come."

And sure enough, a group of eight furious dogs had come out, all at the intermediate level. All though this time, the group dealt with each one swiftly and with ease.

Ray wondered if the demon man truly wished to fight him in a one on one duel or weather the Shadow plague's plan was just to wear them down.

After riding for a while longer, they had no more encounters and had finally reached the abandoned town. There were crumbled buildings and broken rocks everywhere and, in the centre, a single dried up well.

Not much was left of the town.

"Where are we meant to meet the demon man?" Mike asked.

"All that was stated was to meet in the town, nothing else," Lenny replied.

"Look over there," Eve said pointing at a nearby hill just at the edge of town. A dark figure stood on top.

"I do believe that is our Demon man," Lenny said.