[Warning! This solo contains heavy religious references. Viewer discretion is advised.]
For the first time in a long while, Leucite woke refreshed. Opening his eyes, he was heartened to see Iudicael had not moved from his spot at his feet. “Time to go,” He said to the youma as he slowly got to his feet, weapon used to help him walk the long distance he had traveled since he had begun his journey two days ago. It was strange how different he felt now than he had on the first day of his trek into the Rift. Still, he had much to do, and more crystals to find.
Exiting the cave, Leucite once again began his search, and again, found the search to be less that fruitful. He could barely find a handful of crystals that fit his criteria. Though, through a stroke of luck, or perhaps fate, he found a long, thin, sharp crystal he could use to drill holes in the ones he had collected thus far. It would take a great deal of time, but it could be done.
Taking his current collection of crystals, he and Iudicael settled down against a larger formation of crystal to being the work. It was a painstaking process, require Leucite to lean over each gem for hours, quickly spinning the crystal with his hands to drill the hole through the small stones.
Much of the day passed in this manner, Leucite only taking breaks to hydrate and answer the calls of nature. The day dragged on and on, with no end in sight for Leucite. Each crystal seemed to take an eternity to drill, and he still had so many more left to do. This included the pieces he had yet to find.
He was so wrapped up in his task, that he completely miss Iudicael’s sudden alertness. He was warned only by the youma’s sudden growl as it leapt at the other beast that had snuck up on them while Leucite had worked.
The youma was a feral, or at least so Leucite thought. It was a large feather and scaled thing. It had a crocodilian head, but an almost chicken like body. Iucidael had leapt upon the things broad back, for it was almost as big as Leucite, and had clamped his jaws upon the back of the youma’s neck like a bear trap. Leucite knew those jaws would not release until ordered, or the other youma or Iudicael were dust. Leucite desired neither option, but knew that he had little choice at this venture.
If he ordered Iudicael to release the other youma, it would only attack them both. If he let them fight it out, there was a good chance Iudicael could be dusted, and Leucite knew he could not handle that in his current state.
Leaving his work unfinished, he picked up his weapon quickly and ran toward the youma as it thrashed, attempting to dislodge Iudicael from its back. Leucite knew this to be a futile venture, and could only pity the strange mix of crocodile and chicken. Lashing out with his own weapon, he struck hard with the weighted metal end at the bottom of his banner.
It took only a few strikes before the beast burst into dust, put out of it’s misery and slow demise by the attrition that was Iuidicael’s jaws. Leucite sighed a bit, not feeling well about having to destroy a servant of the lord in such a manner.
“Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” He said softly, before clicking his tongue for Iudicael to come. He looked over his youma, checking to see if it had received any damage from the fight. Not finding any, he ran his hand through its matted fur, and returned to his work.
He gathered up what remained, placing it in his bag, and decided it would be best to move on. This place was tainted with death now. It did not feel right to continue his holy work here.
He resumed his walk, seeking crystals as he went. His goal was to find not only a place to bed down for the “night” but to also find a suitable place to drill more of the crystals. He could hear the rumble of his stomach, but he ignored. He had gone three days without food, what was a few more?
He found himself more and more and more tired as he walked, and was soon forced to stop. Sinking down against the base of another formation he sighed and sipped a bit more water. Truly this was more work than he had first suspected, but he would prevail.
Pulling out his work from before, he resumed drilling holes through all of the ones he had collected thus far. He hoped he would find a enough to make the rosary. Then all he would need was a cross. He would have to keep an eye out for a piece that would work, or perhaps he could forge one from two pieces of crystal. He would have to wait and see.
Once he finished drilling the crystals that he had found, he closed his eyes and relaxed against the formation he had stopped at. He needed to sleep. He needed to regain his strength for the next day. He was more exposed than he liked, but it would have to do for now. Forcing his eyes open, he gathered up his work and put it back in his bag, before settling in to get some rest.
Hopefully the next day would be more successful, and he would find the rest of the things he needed. His soul felt lighter now than it had been, even with the destruction of one of the Lord’s servants. It had been a shame, but it would have done the same to him or Iudicael if he had let it go.
He drifted off to sleep, one hand atop his weapon, the other resting on the top of Iudicael’s head.
