Foad
© 2022 by Walter Reimer

Thumbnail art by :icondragonmelde:, color by :iconmarmelmm:

“You stand in the presence of death,” the raven said.
Meredith readied her sword, hefting her shield to parry any attack, while Varan began to cast.
Lord Foad opened his beak and cawed a single word.
“FUCKOFF!”
A wave of force spread out across the room from the raven’s beak, kicking up enough dust to make it visible, and when it struck the two adventurers Varan saw her magic sputter and die and Meredith gaped as her sword shattered and her shield and armor were shredded.  The full impact of the City Lord’s caw slammed into the vir and the mare, shoving them back against the far wall of the room with enough force to dive their bodies four centimeters deep into the solid concrete.
And, incidentally, crushing their bones and nearly liquefying their organs.

***

“Aka, that was nasty,” Vesan remarked as Varan finished the replay and the Terran Basic words GAME OVER faded away.  “The game’s not over, of course.”
“Of course,” Varan replied as her simulacrum and Meredith’s reappeared at the last saved point.  “All it means is that we still have to get past him in order to discover the location of the Demonic Library.”
The admiral sipped at a glass of henal, her shorter left ear twitching.  “Is there enough time to try again?”
Varan glanced at the horolog and gestured negatively.  “I must return to my ship, Frelen,” she reminded her superior.
“Yes, your next patrol.”  Vesan took a breath.  “Are you planning on sending this module to Meredith?”
“I had thought of that, yes, after we defeat Lord Foad.”
“Good.  Have a safe patrol, Captain,” and the two viri embraced before they left the simulator.