Blood Charm: IV. Bloodthirsty

The Blood Charm
Chapter 3 - Bloodthirsty



"General Khur's log, entry 133

The enemy continues it's restless assault. Defenses hold firm. Annika has requested that she be assigned to Primary Defense. Something doesn't seem right about her. She is too bloodthirsty, even for my standards. Regardless, her victories are boosting army morale.

Rumour going around that the charm Annika wears around her neck is cursed. They say that it is driving her to madness and that is why she has become so violent. Not sure I believe it. Seems far too absurd to me. But even if it were true, what does it matter? If this charm of hers is the reason she has become such a powerful fighter then perhaps this is a blessing, not a curse!"



"Doctor Blith's journal, entry 105

Success! It is in fact the tiny germs that sometimes grow on purro roots that contain the pain-relieving drug, and not the root itself. This is a great discovery indeed!

Earlier today Reina came to speak with me. She told me she thinks the charm Annika wears around her neck all the time is cursed.

Reina explained to me that Annika suffered from a rare split personality disorder when she was younger. The strange split personality, who referred to herself as Anne, first appeared when Annika was ten years old. Through intensive counseling and therapy, Annika was able to contain Anne. Reina thinks that the charm Annika wears is awaking the long dormant Anne. She told me that the way Annika has been acting lately is exactly like the way her split personality acted: indifferent, greedy, and violent.

What Reina has told me is disturbing to say the least. It explains why when I last saw Annika she had insisted I call her Anne. Annika has always disliked it when people shorten her name to “Anne”, and had always stated that she prefers to go by her full name.

I’m not sure if I believe in cursed charms, but this situation certainly deserves some looking into. Reina mentioned that Annika found the Charm in the Yette forest along an old trading route. I will go there tomorrow after my shift to see if I can find anything that could shed more light on this situation."



"Reina's diary, entry 71

After speaking to Doctor Blith last night, I saw Annika leaving her quarters with many of her belongings. I called to her but she ignored me. No one has seen her since that night. Where could she be?

I was informed that one of the horses was stolen from the stable. Why do I get the feeling that the thief is Annika? And why do I have a sinking feeling that she’s not coming back?"

Blood Charm: III. Inner Darkness

The Blood Charm
Chapter 2 - Inner Darkness


"General Khur's log, entry 117

Strangely quiet day today. Scouts reported enemy movement 3 days ago but still no sign of an attack. No doubt this is the calm before the storm.

Annika has requested that she be assigned to Secondary Defense. It's about time! I was beginning to wonder if that girl would ever stop being such a bleeding heart. Surely my stories of wartime glory have inspired her fighting spirit! Still, I must admit I was a bit surprised. She was always so intent on being assigned to scouting missions in order to avoid shedding blood. And now all of a sudden she wants to be assigned to Secondary. I wonder if there is something more to her sudden change of heart."



"Doctor Blith's journal, entry 93

There have been far less injuries for me to attend to recently. I am thankful for this break in action, while it lasts.

I've spent the extra time continuing my research on pain relieving drugs. The experiment with the purro roots was a failure. I am unable to repeat the success of the first test. Perhaps it is not the root itself that provides the results I seek.

There is something strange about the way Annika is acting lately. She usually comes in for her weekly check-up without a single scratch. She told me she refuses to shed the blood of another and always insists on taking missions that do not require her to fight. But today she came in with a large gash on her left arm. She told me she has been assigned to Secondary Defense, which is a surprise to me. Her superiors have always been understanding of her decision to avoid violence. It seems strange that they would suddenly assign her to such a position. I can't quite explain why, but somehow I think she wanted to be assigned there."



"Reina's diary, entry 66

I am concerned about Annika. We've been friends since childhood and I've always known her to be a kind and gentle person. Everyone knows that if it were not mandatory, she would have never enlisted to the army. She always tells me how she'll leave the army as soon as she has served the required two years. But lately she's been acting really strange. She smiles less now and seems so intent on fighting. She also spends a lot of time by herself. She didn't even say hi to me in the training room today.

I know it sounds crazy, but I think it has to do with the Blood Charm. That's what Annika and I call that medallion she found the other day because of the blood-red coloured stones that decorate it. She told me she liked it because it symbolized the worth of blood and how it was wrong to spill it. She wears it around her neck all the time. Is it just coincidence that she only started acting like this a couple days after she found it? I talked to Doctor Blith today and he agreed that there is something strange about the way she's acting.

I told her I was concerned but she said she was just having a mood swing and that I was just being paranoid. But my gut tells me it's more than that.

Tomorrow, I will speak with Doctor Blith about the Blood Charm. I think I will also tell him about Annika's troubling past. I promised not to tell anyone about her... condition. But I don't think I have a choice."

Jellyfish Heaven

The goal was the paint a picture that is soft, calm, and beautiful; just like the person I painted it for.

Blood Charm chapter 2 coming soon...

The Blood Charm
Chapter 1 - Annika



"General Khur's log, entry 103

New recruits came in today. I see a lot of promising faces and potentially powerful fighters. As always, there are some who do not wish to fight. Already gotten two applications for non-violent scout missions. Bah, where do all these self-righteous pacifists come from anyways? Our great city is at war! In time, they’ll see the only way to truly defend our great land is to fight!

Besides, with Annika as a full time scout, we don’t need any more scouts. I’m certainly not interested in appointing more scouts just to appease those weak-minded peace lovers!

I may have failed to convince Annika that spilling the blood of our enemies is necessary to defend our home, but I will not fail to do so with the new recruits.”



"Doctor Blith's journal, entry 81

Mending the wounded can be so tiring sometimes. Today I worked non-stop; I did not even break to eat till my shift ended. In this time of war, I am thankful for General Khur’s sturdy and confident command of the army, but sometimes I think his impulsive orders cause more harm to the soldiers than necessary.

Annika has brought me the purro roots I requested, as well as her usual stories from her various scout missions. I will begin the experiment on the roots as soon as possible."



"Reina's diary, entry 56

I have been assigned to patrol duty for the next week. That's just the nice quiet break I've needed. Though I still intend to continue my rigorous training.

Today, Annika came back from her scout mission in the Yette Forest with a strange looking medallion. It’s forged with solid silver and decorated with blood-red gems. She says the forest is full of hidden treasures. Gosh, I'd love to explore that forest one day."

Mutant Moth

Blood Charm: I. Hidden Curse

The Blood Charm
Prologue - Hidden Curse

“Among blue flowers it laid, glimmering in the morning light; so beautiful, with its brilliant jewels and intricate design. Yet it was the bleakest of curses that hid behind this façade of beauty. Indeed, no one could have known the dark future that this charm would bring…”

Things I Painted For Other People

These are two paintings that I did for other people. Painted while I was slacking off at work.

My next post will most likely be the first installment of the Blood Charm series (finally).