Morri's Crow

Morri's eyes flickered open. Within the courtyard that she had spent the last two years training in. The weight of the platemail she wears once brought her down, but now it no longer bothers her. A warrior, and a powerful one at that. "Apprentice Morri, you do understand you can only do this once, yes? If you fail, you can be killed, or worse, banished," A familiar hand placed itself on her left pauldron, Morri's gaze flickering upwards, seeing her mentor. Lord Samhain. Even whilst wearing a helmet, Morri could tell the man was nervous.
"Don't worry, Lord. I'll make you proud. I have not faltered yet, have I?" A silent nod was returned, Samhain's helmet turning to observe the rest of the courtyard. In the dead center, for all of the Nobles of Lydgartha to see, was a singular blade, buried deep into the dirt that held up the courtyard. "Lady Blanka had that blade before, right? What happened to her?" Morri's grip on her own longsword. It was standard, bestowed by Lydgartha's government itself. Whilst Samhain focused on the crowds and the warrior opposite to them, Morri's gaze was resting upon the drapes over the stands, shielding the nobles from Harsh Sunlight.
"She was killed by a Helion. By the coastline, what are you looking at?" Samhain turned to face her, fixing up pieces of her armour whilst waiting for a response. Morri had no clue on how to explain it, but she needed to wait for something. A crow.
"It's nothing, I'm just needing to... swallow some nerves. Get the fear out of my system, you know?" She gave a quick nod, before finally seeing it.

Perched upon the corner, above where one of the most powerful nobles of the capital sat, was a crow. Black feathers, yet with a pale, white beak. It did not move, but just stood, eyes trained on the soon-to-be knight. With that, Morri unveiled her blade. Holding it into the sunlight, it's reflection pierced the air, and struck against the sword she was about to win. Her head came back to Samhain. "I won't dissapoint you, Sir," Morri stated, her tremble coming to a stop. Her mentor lifted the helmet underneath his arm, and placed it onto Morri's head. "I know you won't. You never have before. Even if you falter now, you have been my greatest student. I'm proud of you, Morri," He turned, and paced to the stalls, Morri then turning to the Crow one last time. Beginning to pace, all she had to do was make her opponent no longer be able to fight. Her charge ended with a forward thrust, being parried by a blade of the same standard. Morri was quick, agile, and tactical. Whereas her opponent was much more brutish. He went for a slam with his sword, only to be met by Morri turning her foot, striking his side with her blade. It bounced from the armour, and she would be met by a direct punch to her head, causing her to stumble. He took his blade out from the ground, going for wild strikes. Morri avoided each and every attack, yet could not sneak one in. His bizarre movements were too much to predict. She got back, and got into a more favourable position. Blade resting on her non-dominant hand, she waited for his wild strikes to come to an end. As it did, she stepped forward, and drove the tip of her blade through the spaces of his armour, drawing blood. His attempt at a deflection followed through, even if not protecting him, as her blade swung through the air, breaking off a chunk of his armour. Blood spilled from the wound, and Morri was made with his violent attack, soon enough pinning her next to the blade, embedded into the ground, the one they were fighting over.

Her helmet hit against the ground, soon being ripped off and thrown across the courtyard. With Morri's face exposed, she was thrown punch after punch, cheeks turning blue with bruises. Her opponent raised his blade upward, ready to slam it down and finish the fight. But the Crow persisted. She could see it in the corner of her eye. Like each time she's seen it before, she needed to persist, like it has for her. She reached up, hands above her face. Morri took the blade, in her hand. Survival is all that mattered to her, pushing the blade away, and then letting go. The knight sunk down, and Morri placed her hands against his sides and pushed him close to the blade that was once used by Blanka. It was Morri's turn to slice with it's edge. With one last blow, a kick into his abdomen, she was able to launch her foe across the blade, slicing his neck open. Dead, almost instantly. The dirt beneath the two warriors was soaked in the thick crimson liquid. Morri rose, her hand going onto the blade for support, then taking it out of the ground. The intricate carvings on the broadside glimmered from the harsh sunlight, and she rose it into the air, pride flowing through her veins. Her gaze returned to where the crow was once settled, only to see it gone. Her adrenaline came to a slowing halt, the approving celebrations coming from the stalls now being recongizable to her. She did it. She was a knight. A lady. Lady Morri.

X

Four years passed. Lady Morri sharpening the blade she used on this day, upon the fortress she was deployed to. Only to be interrupted in her armoury by a scrawny lady, a note in her hand. "Lady Morri! The capital just sent you a message, I apologise for my interruption!" She'd stammer, only to be met with Morri walking on over to her. She plucked the note from her hand, and began to read aloud, in certain parts. "Lady Morri, my greatest student... so on so on... requested to meet your former mentor in his... and... oh well. I can go visit him when I can. Instead of finishing the process of sharpening her blade, Morri simply handed back the letter. "Place this on my study desk, please. Next to the book on the Necromancers shall do nicely," Morri offered a smile, and took off her smithing apron. She never went back to her study, not for a while, at least. Conflict always arose, and by the end of the week, she could only then go to read the letter. With each new line read, her heart sunk just a little further. The neglect she faced, it got her to snatch it into her pocket, and dash out of the fortress, and don both a saddle and a noble steed. Back home, it's where she needed to be, for Samhain. If not for the fearful thoughts dominating her headspace, the cawing of a crow, following her, would've been all she cared for. There were times that fate had to take the backseat in her mind, this being one of the oh so many few. Over the fields, Morri would see the capital in the distance, her steed slowing. Now was not time for failure, she had to put all the effort she could muster in herself, and a horse would not slow her down. She reached by the saddle to her steed, and unveiled a whip. Lashing down, each strike made the horse go faster, before it came to a complete stop, falling. Morri would be launched from her deceased mount, send flying across the pathway, scrapes forming across all of her exposed skin.

She stood herself up, and turned for a mere moment to the horse. No more time to waste, her gaze was met by the Crow, having sat itself on the head of the dead animal, head tilted, eyes piercing into Morri's mind. "Why are you here? You can't be here! Samhain is only sick, this isn't monumental to my life!" She yelled, tears welling in her face. "You were there when I won that fight, and before that, when my parents died, when I was brought into his care! What do you want from me, you daft bird?" She yelled, walking over to it. The bird hopped back a few paces, and kept itself sat, just watching her. Morri paused, her mind trailing back to Samhain. The crow was here, her life was to have monumental change. That's why she waited that one day, long ago. Turning her step, she began bolting down the pathway, desperate to get to Samhain's home. Each step was painful, but she had to continue in pursuit of her Mentor. Morri could not stop, when blood seeped from the boots she wore, and soon stained over her greaves, she would know that the struggle was worth it. Samhain could be dead already, for all she knows. It took her only an hour to get to the castle walls. She knew which way to go from there, like the back of her hand. She moved past other knights, through courtyards and staircases that exhausted her, but when she finally got to his door, she effectively knocked off the door it's hinges, it swinging in an arc, then collapsing against the ground. Samhain raised his head from his bed, his face pale. "You took your time, Morri. How has things been?" He gave a smile, sitting upright now. Morri, exhausted, just stared down her mentor.
"You sent a letter, that you're dying? How do you think I've been?" She yelled, before her eyes widened. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have yelled, Sir," Samhain raised a hand, as if to calm her down.
"Morri, listen, it is okay. Sit down, I have something I need to tell you," Samhain folded his arms, his gaze going from his former apprentice to outside, over the barren fields. "this is a dark land. You know of the struggles we practically all see around us, don't you?" His smile faded, then focusing on the window, sighing. "You got here just in time," Morri stepped forward a few paces, and then went down to her knees, by his bedside. "Samhain, Sir, I mean, what is going on? I can't lose you yet... please..." She pleaded, knowing neither of them could do anything. Tears welled up in her eyes, her gaze going to where his one rested, seeing her Crow. "What are you looking at?" She'd then ask, Samhain then going back to her.
"An old friend. That is all,"

Morri closed her eyes, tears flowing down her face. "a crow, by any chance?"
"So you see it too, that's good, I haven't known anybody else who sees it, it makes sense it'd be you," Samhain reached over, his hands cupped, before laying back. A lump formed in Morri's throat, concerned. "I've never been able to hold it, I assume, that is what you are doing, are you not?" Her voice wobbled, close to simply breaking down. "Big things happen, when it's with you, so... I suppose I should tell you, that you were the best teacher I could ask for, Samhain. I'm honoured to be your student, and I'm proud to carry on your legacy, Sir,"
"Just Samhain now, Ma'am. Let my honour be carried on through your future legacy, star pupil," He chuckled, going back to face her. "I'll be leaving soon, you know. There's something here I wish for you to have, please. You need to take it, Morri," She shook her head, fingers digging into the bedside. With all of the former warrior's strength, he lifted up his helmet, and gestured for Morri to take it. Hesitation was in her mind, but ultimately Morri took the helmet, and put it on.
"How... how do I look?" She asked, staying still with the odd tremble. Her tears flowed from behind the mask, keeping as quiet as she could for Samhain to be at peace. It didn't help that they ran down the steel exterior of her new helmet, then dripping onto the ground.
"Like a warrior, like you always have been," Samhain smiled, and closed his eyes. Never to open them again.

X

Morri lifted off her helmet, wiping away some sweat that ran down her cheeks. The knight turned to a group of soldiers alongside her, smile on her face. "At attention, recruits. We're about to go to the coastlines. This is your first time out of the training fields. So let me tell you something. You won't be getting second tries, or extensions, or anything of the sort. You'll need to face fate in the eye and tell her yes, or no, you lot understand?" She waited for a response, followed by a simultaneous nod from them all. "At ease, then. It's a trek to the shoreline, and there we'll be handling a mission I'll define to you all when there. Now, on your feet, and get to it," Morri knew the quickest way to get there, plus, she had went down this same pathway on every weekend with Samhain. She began her journey, watching most of the other squires and recruits make their advance across the fields. She descended past a potruding point in the hills, and contineud down her own path. Having continued down the pathway, opposite to a thin stream that lead to the sea. Morri came to a stop, hearing the clanking of metal behind her. "Ah, you're one of the clever ones, aren't you?" Turning, Morri went eye-to-eye with the squire that stood, frozen in a panic. "Relax, kiddo. You're doing exactly what I would've expected a proper knight to do," She walked on over, refilling her flask in the stream. "Name?"
"Cadric, ma'am. I heard of you fighting, in the courtyard. You were great, my brother told me!" He exclaimed, then going quiet. "Apologies. I know I should not talk about my personal life to my surperior," Morri held out a hand, shaking her head.
"No, no no. Keep going on, Cadric. I did the same for Samhain, where I stood where you were. Figuratively speaking, of course. I never thought of following him down the pathway he always went. Thought I needed to go my own way, but he was my guide through all of it," Morri smiled, turning to go ahead once more. Cadric followed close behind, hand on his helmet to stop it from falling.
"Well, well... erm... my brother was in the crowd, when you won that fight! He told me all of the stuff you did, the long-point stance, using the blade you use now to win it, especially!" He went on and on about how much he enjoyed the fight, Morri listening on with eagerness. "my brother would never shut up about it. Not that I minded, of course!" Laughter came from the squire, Morri peering over the last couple of hills to see the oceanside.
"Not much longer to go, young one. Go run ahead, make sure nobody else has arrived yet. I can't be shown off by new students of mine, can I?" She pointed forwards, to the sands along the sea.

Cadric dashed off, Morri soon reaching to where the waves of grass get turned into the sand touched by the waves of water. Although, she heard the distinct noise of wings flapping. She turned, and saw the Crow. It was closer than ever before. Eyes went wide, and she slid off her helmet, dropping it into the sand below. "Why, why are you here?" She spoke, stepping closer. The pale beak of the bird reflected off the setting sun, before turning back to her student. Trembling ground, she began to run to Cadric. Cadric himself was focused on a perching hill. "Hey, Ma'am? I didn't know crows appeared on this side of Lydgartha," He pointed over to an empty walkway, the tremble coming from beneath the unknowing male. All of a sudden, the ground tore apart, sand spraying upwards, followed by the unveiling of a roaring beast. A singular mouth of a thousand fangs ripped out of the ground, inside what appears to be the malicious source of a crimson flame. From the mouth of the thousand horrors, arose two sharp, midnight-black blades. Cadric turned, and shrieked in fear, trembling as he paced back. His shaking hand rested upon his longsword, unveiling the dull blade. The Helion focused in on the squire, ready to devour him whole. Blades pointed downwards, it dove to attack. In ultimatum, Morri dove forward, blade in hand, deflecting both strikes, standing between the two. "Get out of here, Please!" She ordered, preparing an onslaught of precise attacks. Chipping away at the monster's scales, her strikes did no proper damage, but all in all, it stopped the recruit from being hurt. "Get your fellow soldiers, that's an order!" She would narrowly avoid a piercing lunge from the alien form, catching a glimpse of Cadric, frozen in fear. "Now!" Morri yelled, diving to the side and jamming her blade into the crawling monstrosity, as it tunneled through the sand. Cadric, upon snapping out of his senses, began to run off, in the direction of the oncoming squires. Morri's gaze turned to them all, seeing them get to a safe distance. A smile turned onto her face, having successfully prepared them. Her Crow sat upon the sands, just out of range of the Helion itself. Not like it could see the bird, all it could focus on was Morri herself. Readying for another strike, her attention turned back to the monster, about to strike.

Her hearing faded, a sharp pain entering her stomach. Focusing on other things, but the threat of most importance, right in front of her. Her gaze trembled down, bloodshot eyes as she'd begin to realise why the Crow had come. This was not her fight to win. Blood soaked the sands below her feet, as she arched her back, holding her sword with the last of her strength. Hellion, closer than ever before, Morri saw a glimpse of something deep inside of it's body. A light. Much softer than the rest of it's molten-esque aesthetic. With the last of her strength, she threw the blade into it's mouth, and pierced what she assumed to be it's heart. She was right, but more importantly, she was content. The threat was gone, and her recruits safe. The Helion fell, it sent Morri to the ground, holding her wound tight. Vision blurring, numbness on her tongue, she began to focus on a black smudge in front of her. Once focusing enough, it was her Crow. "ah... just like Samhain. I'll be seeing you soon, Old Man," As both the Monster died and the Heroine, the Crow climbed onto Morri's palm, her last moments of consciousness holding the bird, carefully.