Against The Eternity Chapter 19: [18] Chapter - 8: A Furious Beast (Part - 1/2)

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[18] Chapter - 8: A Furious Beast (Part - 1/2) Eklavya's eyes were barely open, slits that struggled against the weight of sleep. His breathing was shallow and irregular, each movement of his chest a struggle. The last vestiges of borrowed soul power struggled weakly through his body like dying embers. The valley was quiet, a stillness that was a far cry from the chaos that had reigned during the battle. Dust drifted lazily through the air, settling over the bodies like a thin funeral veil. The metallic taste of blood hung thick in the air, a thick mist that clung to the breeze like a wet blanket. Anshvi walked across the bodies of the dead with a quiet care that belied her swift movement. She dropped down beside him on her knees without hesitation. She reached out a hand to his face, her palm cradling his jaw as a pill was inserted into his lips. Even in his half-fading state, Eklavya's body responded automatically to the pill. Trust was something that never seemed to be a problem for him when it came to her. She watched him as he struggled into a cross-legged position. Sweat beaded on his forehead as the faint lines on his neck and arms began to glow with the dim light of borrowed soul power. The seal inside him was damaged; nearly a quarter of the first unsealed layer had already been drained. This by itself was a dangerous amount. The soul power inside him was not something that could replenish itself; it took soul herbs or stones for that to happen. Both were rare commodities even in wealthy places, especially on the outskirts of a city. “Are you alright?” Anshvi asked softly, her voice no longer laced with aggression since the fight was over. “Yeah… I’m fine,” Eklavya answered, casting a quick glance in her and Elder Jai’s direction. His voice was laced with a semblance of calmness, although his chest still ached as if a boulder had fallen on him. ‘Hah… Using soul power is no joke.’ Eklavya thought to himself as he stood up. Minutes ticked by as he waited for the effects of the medicinal pill to take hold. His body began to warm up as the pill worked to counteract the intense strain he’d experienced from using the borrowed energy. The shaking in his fingers subsided. The paleness that had drained from his lips returned to normal. His breathing steadied. His legs were strong and steady as he stood up. Though a hint of tiredness still lingered in his eyes. He looked out at the battlefield. Every one of his attackers was dead. Except for one. A Grandmaster-level warrior was lying several steps away from Eklavya. The warrior was barely clinging to life. His body twitched feebly against the ground. His breathing was shallow and desperate as if he was struggling to keep air in his lungs. Eklavya moved towards him slowly. His footsteps crushed dried leaves beneath his feet. The sound echoed in the stillness of the forest. The warrior’s upper abdominal region was ripped open from the fight. Blood was pooling from the wound in dark blotches. His fingers were digging feebly at the ground as he tried to raise his head. His eyes rolled towards Eklavya in a mixture of pain, fear, and a hint of determination that he would not die quietly. Eklavya looked down at the man who was barely breathing and said dispassionately, “You actually left him on the edge of death.” Anshvi moved closer, her hand reaching up to smooth a strand of her loose purple hair back behind her ear as she looked over at the wounded warrior. Her lips curved into a faint smile, one that was calm, almost uncaring. “He’s alive enough to talk for a few minutes,” she said. Eklavya knelt beside the dying man, his knee almost touching the earth. His shadow fell over the man’s face. Eklavya’s voice was cold when he spoke again, even colder than his anger had been. “Who sent you here to attack us?” The man’s chest convulsed in a violent coughing fit, blood flying from his lips onto his chin and onto the dirt beneath him. His eyes struggled to focus, drifting up towards the f