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O ne moment they were gawking at the insect-like creatures, the next the four warriors were in the middle of the battle, weapons out and magic at the ready. Casimir shouted at the monsters, distracting them from the house. “Hey! Over here!”

Two of them took the bait and flew down toward the group with a loud buzzing sound that rang in his ears. To his left, Jorrar used his earth magic to create a golem from the mud. It was large, close to eight feet tall and punched and kicked the air as it ambled toward one of the creatures.

Bright green shoots burst from the ground as Quinn created vines along the roof, reinforcing the house and covering the holes. The tendrils snaked their way along the sides of the house as they wove together, temporarily protecting the family inside from the blood hungry insects.

Raine nocked an arrow, the best archer in the group, and prepared to provide cover as Casimir lunged at the first creature.

It was bigger than he realized, almost as large as he was, and it hovered in front of him with its pincers snapping eagerly. He swiped at the insect with his sword, but the creature dodged it, much faster than he expected.

The beast darted in his direction, slicing the air with its dagger-like arms. Casimir ducked and rolled out of the way at the last second, barely escaping the attack. Jumping to his feet, he ran and slashed with his sword, but his attempt was skirted yet again.

Jorrar’s golem was growing and punching at the other insect, but it was too quick, and it failed to land a single blow.

Raine tried with his bow, loosing an arrow directly at its eye, and yet it evaded this attack as well.

A couple of guards from town had joined the fight but their blows were deflected every time.

“They’re too quick!” Casimir shouted at his friends as he ducked, avoiding another attack. “We need a new strategy.”

“I’ve got an idea!” shouted Quinn. “Follow my lead.”

The other three readied their magic and weapons as Quinn stalked toward one of the insects, offering herself as bait.

Behind her, she was creating a makeshift cage out of roots growing from the soil.

The brown roots twisted around each other, making the perfect trap.

Understanding her plan, Casimir caught her eye and nodded while the other two occupied the other creature, distracting it.

Quinn stood still, arms outstretched, waiting for the insect to attack. It hovered out of reach of her weapons, buzzing with ire as it decided what to do. “It’s not taking the bait, Quinn,” Casimir growled.

“Let’s see if you want this ,” she said as she unsheathed one of her many daggers. Slicing along her forearm, she let the blood drip onto the grass. “Hungry, you ugly bastard?”

It fell for the trick, scenting the blood, and shot directly at Quinn.

Casimir positioned himself near the makeshift cage, waiting.

At the last second, Quinn rolled and landed in a crouch, threw out her arms at the roots and created an opening.

The monster slammed into the root ball, now unable to escape, as she wove the trap together. Seconds later, Casimir was upon it.

He lunged, impaling its chest with his sword. Its carapace was strong, and it was harder to pierce than he expected, but it worked. It was dead and remained twitching on the ground as they turned to the remaining two.

“Good work.” He nodded at his captain. She never second guessed herself in a fight. That was exactly why she was second in command to their armies.

Quinn joined Jorrar and Raine as they attempted to kill one of the creatures and Casimir directed his attention to the one still on the roof.

The screams of the children inside were rising, too frozen in fear to flee as the insect sliced the roof, creating a hole large enough to fit through.

Quinn’s vines hadn’t lasted, the being cutting through them like butter, and while they were distracted with the other two, it had made progress in reaching its prey.

He waved and yelled, trying to get its attention.

He even tried Quinn’s trick, slicing his arm and enticing it with his blood.

It didn’t work.

As he prepared himself to climb to the roof, someone pulled on his arm.

“Those are my grandchildren!” He whipped his head around and there was Sugha, the tavern owner, eyes wide and welling with tears. “Please, Casimir. You must save them.”

“Stay here,” he said as he ran toward the house, a mere thirty feet away.

Quinn, Raine and Jorrar were working on the third beast and had it surrounded. Assured his friends had their fight handled, he made his way to the side of the house and searched for the easiest place to climb.

He found several barrels stacked in the back and used those to scale the wall, heart racing as he pulled himself onto the roof. It was almost fully inside now, blood curdling screams escaping through the numerous holes in the ceiling.

He dashed forward, but as he brought down his sword, aiming for the unsuspecting insect, it shot straight into the air carrying something in its six dangling legs.

A child.

He froze, panic erupting. His palms were clammy, grip on his sword slick while sweat dripped down his brow.

The young girl screamed and suddenly he was back in that place, cowering as shadows burst into his home.

Soldiers outfitted in solid black armor with spikes marched into the kitchen, boots pounding the wooden floor.

Screams resonated all around him as the soldiers burned down his village, killing everyone in their way.

He shook violently in the cupboards as he held her tight, trying to tamp down his fear as he protected her.

But a cabinet door opened, and she was ripped from his arms, her screams echoing in the house as he tried to stop them.

Tried to save her. The tangy iron smell of blood hung in the air as it pooled at his feet while he watched her die…

“Casimir!” A voice pulled him out of his flashback, and he looked around, still on the roof. “Cas!” Raine shouted again. They had killed the other creature and were looking at him with concern.

He climbed off the roof, looking for the last insect and the girl. Sugha was sobbing, begging them to help as he joined his friends, ready to develop a plan. “Save her!” Sugha said in between breaths. “Oh, Mother have mercy. Do something!”

Jorrar took her hands in his and assured her. “We’ll get her back. I promise you.”

“But how?” she asked. “She’s in the air!”

His three companions looked at him knowingly. “You have to do it, Cas,” encouraged Raine.

Casimir shook his head. “I don’t know if I can. ”

He loathed the magic he needed to use to save the girl.

The way it felt as it erupted from him made him sick and the reminder of his past was often too much to bear.

It had been decades since he’d used his ‘other’ magic, he called it.

He preferred his earth abilities or his skills with the sword, but now wasn’t the time to balk.

He was the only one who could get her from above the treetops.

“You can and you must,” said Quinn. “This isn’t like back then. You have full control. Don’t doubt yourself. Get your ass up there and save that little girl,” she insisted and grasped his shoulder, looking at him with steel in her brown eyes.

Nodding, he looked around for the girl. There, high above the tree line. The creature was carrying her away as her screams faded into the night.

“Check on the others in the house,” he said before running after them.

He reached the insect and stopped just under it, concentrating on its mass.

Pulling, he made himself lighter, manipulating the gravity around him.

It required tremendous focus not to affect everything else in the vicinity and he trembled with effort as he continued to pull on the creature.

Getting the force exact, he jumped up and held his sword at the ready.

Before the monstrous beast had a chance to flee, he gutted it from below, carefully avoiding the girl.

The insect fell apart in the air, innards raining down on the trees, as Casimir held the child in his arms and fell back to the ground with precision while he returned the gravity to normal. Landing with a thud, he took a deep breath and looked at the girl.

Her dark eyes were full of tears, but she was smiling at him. “You’re glowing,” she said as she reached out her small green hand and cradled his face.

His heart warmed. “That happens sometimes. You’re safe now, little one. ”

Abruptly he was surrounded by his friends and onlookers, Sugha pushing her way through. He handed the girl to her and she sobbed with relief as she enfolded her grandchild into her arms.

“Oh, my sweet, sweet girl. You’re safe. Everything’s okay,” she said to the child, then looked at Casimir. “Thank you.”

He nodded and walked away, needing to be alone.

He found a fallen log in the forest near the edge of the farm and sat down, breathing deeply and waiting for his glow to fade.

He hated the way that magic felt as it snaked across his skin, hated the reminder of how he had failed so many years ago.

Retrieving a small carving from his pocket, one he carried everywhere he went, he exhaled and stared at it.

It was a fox which he had meticulously carved himself, a hobby of his that brought him peace.

He caressed its head. “I’m sorry, Elara,” he said, whispering to himself.

Casimir hadn’t struggled with memories from that time in many years. But with the return of the daemon queen and that child in danger, it all came rushing back. As if the wound he thought was healed had been reopened, shame and anger pouring out.

After some time, the crunch of leaves underfoot sounded as someone approached. He placed the fox back into his pocket as Jorrar sat down next to him.

“Are you alright?” he asked.

“I froze.”

“Everyone freezes now and then.”

Staring straight ahead, Casimir replied, “If Raine hadn’t called my name… The girl… she would have died.”

“But she didn’t. Thanks to you.”

He sighed, placing his hands beside him on the log and stretching his legs out in front of him. “Does it get any easier?” he asked Jorrar .

“Does what get any easier?”

“Carrying the burdens of failure. The loss of loved ones. All of it,” he whispered, looking at the sky through the canopy. The reminders of his past were making themselves known and he was overwhelmed with the feel of it all. “I thought I had moved past it.”

Jorrar leaned forward, arms on his knees as he thought. “I don’t know that we ever move past the death of those we love.” He paused. “And I don’t think it gets easier. You just get better at living with it.”

“And how do you?” Casimir turned toward him. “Live with it.”

Jorrar sat back up. “I focus on those that I love. The ones that are still here. And try to find joy in small things. The pitter patter of rain on the roof; the laughter of a child; the taste of a fresh berry tart; being with my friends.”

Jorrar rose, patting Casimir on the shoulder, and began to walk back to town.

Casimir called after him. “And that’s enough?”

Jorrar stopped, looking at him over his shoulder. “It has to be.”