#honestly im a little worried that i cooked too hard w/ the. gore stuff. i don't wanna scare the hoes by accident... /lh

[savior-of-humanity]

Heads up, this is a long post - it's under the readmore!

Also BIG content warning for graphic descriptions of violence/death happening to a child + descriptions of gore + mentions of animal death. (it's only in the first half of the drabble, and since it's short you should be able to easily scroll past it - look for the ". . ." symbols marking the start/end of that section if you want to skip it!!)

AND SPECIAL THANKS TO @kcnhub FOR HELPING ME W/ IDEAS AND DIALOGUE + GIVING ME PERMISSION TO FEATURE AN OC OF HIS!! (For additional clarification; they don't really give a fuck about gender so they go by Halla and/or Hallkel in this.)

also tagging @hymns-across-the-stars and @maykrisms >:3c

--

Cassius awoke from the longest nightmare of his life.

The first instinct that gripped the 6 year-old's mind was to gasp for air, yet his irritated throat instead pulled the boy into a ragged coughing fit. His eyes had yet to adjust to the harsh light, but of what little he could see, he couldn't recognize it anyways. As he slowly sat up, he came to a sudden and frightening realization; he couldn't really remember... anything.

...No, there were some things he could remember; his name was Cassius, he had a pet bunny named Daisy, he lived on Earth with his parents, and... that was it. He couldn't remember where he lived, or who his parents were, or even what they looked like. That, understandably, scared him even further. But Cassius, with what little bravery he still had, pushed aside the fear and tried his hardest to recall anyway.

. . .

. . .

. . .

He remembers it, as clear as day.

They pounce on him faster than he can blink. It was almost just like the night terrors he had for a while, after he stayed up past his bedtime once and caught a glimpse of an old horror movie. But, unlike those nightmares, the dream didn't end right when they were about to get him, because it wasn't a dream at all.

They look him in his terrified eyes, full of unspeakable malice and hunger - and he knows, instantly, that they're going to hurt him, and that there is no running from what is about to happen.

Razor-sharp talons rake across his skin, pulling the flesh back like butcher's hooks until it finally gives and splits open like an over-ripe fruit. They don't hesitate to tear at the exposed fat and muscle, pull him apart piece by piece, blood and guts spilling over tongues and claws.

The smell of gore is strong in the air, so thick that he could almost taste it - but he is barely aware of it. He can't see them unravel him by his entrails. He can't hear them rip his mother asunder somewhere behind him. He doesn't know where Daisy is; he hopes that she's okay.

The only thing he can feel, the only thing he knows in his final moments, is their teeth scraping against his bones as he is torn apart and eaten alive.

. . .

. . .

. . .

A touch on his shoulder pulled the child from the horrific memory, the events forgotten for now. He looked up at the source, eyes wide and brimming with tears, and almost choked on his own breath at what he saw.

Cassius was surrounded by what he could only describe as monsters.

They were creatures reminiscent of angels, dressed in white-gold-red and adorned with big metal halos. Perhaps he could've mistaken them as such, were it not for their inhuman appearances, sharp pointed teeth, and the strange words they spoke that made his head hurt when he tried to understand. All he knew about them was that they reminded him of the nightmares of his dreamless sleep.

Aching for a home he couldn't remember, surrounded by strangers and yet so painstakingly alone, the only thing Cassius could think to do was begin to cry.

--

Cassius Unna Endride wasn't exactly sure what Hallkel was thinking when he suggested that he spar with the Great Slayer.

Hallkel was someone he looked up to, both as a parental figure and as an inspiration; he was the one who had offered to adopt Cassius personally when the Maykrs brought him to live among the Argenta. Since then, he had been raised with a loving and steady hand; as Hallkel was a Night Sentinel, it was also expected of him to raise his son to become a warrior like himself. So far, Cassius had proved to be a promising apprentice.

The day, up until the point of time that was his current predicament, had so far been like any other for the 16 year-old boy; he woke up, cooked and ate with his guardian, cleaned up, and then headed off for the nearby training arena for daily exercise routines. It wasn't uncommon for spectators to watch the trainees and practicing warriors from the sidelines; most were off-duty Sentinels like Hallkel, or the occasional loved one. Sometimes there were Maykrs present - he never liked it when they would watch him spar, for reasons he couldn't really explain.

Cassius was completely surprised to see that the Great Slayer, of all people, stood among the spectators today.

The Slayer, to put it simply, was nothing short of an ancient hero of legend in the flesh; from the stories Hallkel had told Cassius when he was younger, the Great Slayer had once been a mere outsider, a captive taken from the feral wilds. They had expected him to die in battle like any other thrall, but to their surprise he displayed such fearsome yet pinpointed brutality and strength against the demonic hordes, that King Novik accepted him among the ranks of the Night Sentinels. Since then, his fame and renown only grew, eventually earning him the prestige and honor that came with the role of leading armies into battle. Some even considered him to be the greatest among the living War Generals, second only to the King himself.

Even in the training arena, bystander and trainee alike gave the Slayer a wide berth out of respectful fear. Cassius had to admit, he felt rather intimidated by his presence, especially given that the hooded Maykr he only knew as Samur was accompanying the Slayer today. The two looked to be in idle conversation.

So imagine his complete and utter shock as he watched Hallkel, with the total casualness and ease of someone that knew the Great Slayer like they were childhood best friends, walk up to the two and suggest that he spar with Cassius.

The Slayer looked at Samur, looked at him, and then back to Hallkel. To Cassius' ever-growing dismay, the Slayer nodded, and he knew that his fate was sealed.

His despair didn't just come from the fact that he had to prove his skill to the Great Slayer. The Slayer was seldom seen ever in the training arena, let alone sparring with anyone - which naturally meant that the gaze of nearly every person present was locked on him and the boy. As the other man grabbed a pole-arm and tossed another over to Cassius, he glanced over to where Hallkel stood by Samur; his guardian flashed him a grin and a thumbs up.

Initially, the spar started off slow; an intentional act on the Great Slayer's part, to allow Cassius to get used to the pace and to his personal fighting style. As they continued, he would gradually increase the pressure; swinging faster, striking harder, forcing his partner to put more effort into defending himself.

Cassius, to his own surprise, found that keeping up with the Great Slayer wasn't as daunting of a feat as he'd imagined it to be, though it was by no means easy. Many times he was forced to block an incoming blow with his own weapon, and actually landing a hit on the Slayer was incredibly difficult given how consistently and readily he blocked or parried incoming strikes.

Then the Slayer suddenly pushed forward - sparring wasn't just about showing off your skill with a weapon, after all - and Cassius shoved back with all his might. Even with the fact that the Slayer was still holding back somewhat for the sake of a fair fight, the trainee's feet skidded through the sand before they found purchase and allowed Cassius to properly stand his ground. Finally, they had come to a stalemate.

For a moment, they just stood there; pole-arms locked against each other, gazes focused on one another. Cassius found himself oddly entranced by the Slayer's eyes - they were a rich shade green, with flecks of gold that seemed to shift in and out of the light, accompanied by a strange glowing red halo around his pupils. Something about the Slayer's gaze was hauntingly familiar - and he could've sworn he saw a flicker of... some kind of emotion cross the Slayer's face for a brief second.

Cassius wasn't sure how the spar was going to end, exactly, only that he'd gone in assuming that his ass was going to get handed to him one way or another. But to see the Slayer suddenly step back, drop his weapon, and submit to him utterly shocked him beyond words. So much so that he barely acknowledged those watching breaking out into cheers and applause, only snapping back to reality when a firm and celebratory slap to the back from Hallkel pulled him out of his shock.

"I KNEW YOU HAD IT IN YOU, MY BOY! Even the Great Slayer knows of your might! Come here--" and before he could protest, Hallkel had wrapped him up in a bear hug and was spinning him around in joyous laughter. Cassius, naturally, was quick to complain. "Dad, please, there's people watching you're embarrassing meeeeee..." He'd whine, and his guardian would finally oblige and set him back on his feet - but not before immediately tussling his hair.

"Ahahahaaa, let them watch! They know I have good reason to celebrate having such an amazing son!" Hallkel boasted, and Cassius couldn't help but smile. He'd glance back at the Slayer; he seemed to be watching the interaction intently, a fond smirk of his own ghosting his lips, though he couldn't help but notice there was a strange and distant look in the Great Slayer's eyes.

Cassius' focus was quickly averted when he noticed something that made his skin crawl, however. Samur hadn't been the only Maykr present - there were actually quite a few among the spectators, much greater in number than any other time they and Cassius happened to be present.

And every single one of them was looking at him.

--

"My father... is the Great Slayer?"

Cassius Unna Endride Oliwa-Blazkowicz couldn't believe the words that came out of his own mouth. Halla simply nodded, her expression gentle yet solemn.

"Yes, my boy. He told me of what he could remember about you," she explained. "For a long time, he couldn't remember what you looked like, or what your name was, because of how long he has spent in Hell. It was only one day that he seemed to suddenly remember and told me the name he gave you."

It was just so much for him to take in. To think, that he was the child of perhaps the most legendary warrior in Argenta history - and he had never even known. But why?

"What happened to him that caused him to forget me?" Cassius asked. There was a low, rumbling whine of sorts off to his side, and a familiar scaly muzzle nudged into the man's side. He ran a comforting hand over the golden-scaled snout of his companion; an Argenta war-dragon, once the personal steed of the Great Slayer. He didn't know how she'd been separated, but he was glad to have found her - the strength of her flames had saved his life countless times.

"Long ago, you had a previous life," Halla began. "His home was invaded by demons, and you.. died. He was struck with so much fury and grief that he declared war on Hell itself to avenge his family and people. The Maykrs were the ones who brought you back to life - from what I know of the matter, they bargained with Hell in exchange for your soul. I do not know why they did so."

He couldn't help but wonder what price they would've paid, just for him. Or, perhaps, who they sacrificed for him. How many people were slaughtered to sate the endless hunger of the dark realm, as a trade for one measly little soul? A part of him hoped that those questions would remain answered.

"Is he still alive, my father?" He questioned, quickly realizing how stupid the question was after it left his lips - of course his father was alive, he was the Great Slayer! Halla seemed to share the same sentiment, as she nodded, suddenly becoming much more cheerful than before.

"Truthfully? I do not have an answer. But I have faith he lives nonetheless, and I imagine you must feel the same way." She gave him a smile; Cassius always found it remarkable, how she could find the good and light in just about any terrible situation.

"I want to find my father. But... I don't know if I'm ready for it." Given that they were currently trapped in Hell on account of the betrayal of the Deag priests, it was a miracle that he - or anyone, really - had managed to survive for this long against the demons. "I was sure I was going to die until I found Dandelion, and even then- I just.. I'm not ready to face this place like my father can."

Cassius hung his head in shame; he was of the Slayer's blood. He was the son of the greatest demon slayer in Argenta history, and yet he lacked the strength and conviction to follow the same path his father did. He felt weak, both in body and spirit - but he didn't linger on those darker thoughts for very long. His guardian suddenly cupped his face with her hands, gently turning his head up so that he'd look her right in the eyes.

"My boy... there is no shame in admitting weakness. It is alright if you are not ready; in the end, you are still a Night Sentinel and always will be one, through and through. And beyond that? You are our son. I will not let you face this world alone until you feel like you are ready to take that step."

He couldn't stop the tears that began to well up in his crimson eyes, or the trembling smile that crossed his face.

Halla pulled him into an embrace, and for the first time in a long time, Cassius began to cry.