《The Hushed Weald》


 The Lonely King

    The clear night sky, such a beauty, the stars and the moon looking over forests, towns, people. They were always there, yet we still can''t appreciate those miracles of nature. We always look forward and never back, such is human nature. One can never see that what is most precious is right beside them. Be it a man or a woman, a child or an elder, they always miss the most important thing of all: love.


    Somewhere, there is a forgotten land. Some say giants ruled over it, others say they were elves, but the truth has been lost to time. This vast land is full of ruins of a civilization long gone. Fountains and streets once full of people, now deserted covered by vegetation. Large structures left barely standing, such a shame.


    It is true, at first it might have looked like a wreck, but it was peaceful, filled with the silence of a crypt. Even the howl of the wind couldn''t be heard. Some might go insane from it, but others would enjoy it just as much.


    A tall castle was still standing. Indeed, it was covered by vegetation, like the rest of the land, but it was in a much better shape. Through windows entered rays of light that illuminated the inside. On the walls stood tall statues of gargoyles and knights untouched by the change of time. These were a symbol of power and will.


    Inside the castle, there was one person standing on the throne. There was nobody else here, not even animals, not even bugs, only him standing on the throne, sleeping.


    This person was wearing a long cape, long enough to cover his body like a blanket. Underneath the cape he wasn''t wearing clothes but armor. The armor was made of a strong material unknown by the world, just as his people. He also had a helmet, with horns like those of a reindeer. There were no holes for the eyes or for the mouth, as it was a blank helmet. His gauntlets like claws and his boots pointy and worn.


    Months, years passed as he slept, until the day came, and for the first time in hundreds of years, a sound was heard in the crypt city of Silacet.


    "What is this, WHOAAA!"


    A girl was wandering around the old marketplace. The girl, with red, long hair and shiny, blue eyes, liked to adventure and explore the unknown.


    "Don''t wander around too far!"


    The man who talked to her was a mercenary hired to track a political fugitive. He had white short hair and green eyes, a pretty muscular body and was a good tracker.


    "Just look around, this must be hundreds if not thousands of years old! HOW CAN YOU NOT BE EXCITED?!"


    "Because I have a job to finish. We can look around as much as you want after, you hear me Roisin!"


    It was pointless. She had already wandered off by herself.


    "Ah for fucks sake, now I have two people to find..."


    A few hours passed. Night was coming. Shepherd found the girl, but not the fugitive.


    "Look what you did, now we have to camp here."


    "But-"


    "No! I don''t wanna hear it, you always do this."


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation."Alright..."


    The Moon was shining brightly, the sky was clear and there was no sound, aside from the wood cracking in the fire.


    "Say, don''t you think it''s strange?"


    "What?"


    "This city, there is no sound. I can''t hear any animal, and when I looked under rocks, there weren''t any bugs either. As interesting as you may find it, we must not stay here for long."


    "I understand your concern, but this might be quite a discovery! Can we stay another day or so, please?"


    "NO! And there is nothing that will make me ''think about it''. I''ll get that man and then we''re out of here."


    "I will buy something nice from the blacksmith for you."


    He looked at her. She knew his weakness for new pieces of armor and weapons, and that he just couldn''t resist any offers like this.


    "Argh, alright! Even if I said no, you would pester me until I accept. So yeah, we''re gonna catch that guy and then look around for a day or two."


    "THANKS, SHEPHERD!"


    "Ahm, would it really hurt you to call me father?"


    "No, but I don''t wanna."


    "Whatever..."


    The night passes and the two of them walk towards the castle. The road was hard as stairs were broken, and there were many craters which could lead to one''s death.


    "The footprints lead inside."


    "So what is the problem?"


    "There are two different footprints. One is much larger, so I suppose it''s a human that might reside here. ...But it doesn''t add up."


    "Indeed, there is no source of food or water. Maybe he is just staying here?"


    "You might think that, but I saw the same footprints in many places around here. I didn''t say a thing because I might have startled you, but now it''s unavoidable."


    "He might be friendly. You never know."


    "Let''s just get this over with."


    He lit a torch and entered through the massive doors. The statues seemed to follow them with their eyes. It was unsettling. They advanced, until they saw him.


    "Oh now you gonna get it, you little bastard! You know how much we searched for you?!"


    The man was dressed in a robe. His eyes were green. He had medium black hair shaved on the sides and a long beard.


    "EEEEEK!? P-Please don''t hurt me, they want to execute me! They plotted against me, and now sent you to finish the job!"


    "What? You''re not making any sense! Just come here and we can discuss this. We are staying around for a few days anyway."


    "A-Are you really going to believe me?"


    "Sure. After all, it''s not like I can''t kill you if you fuck with us."


    He gulped, but then accepted the offer anyway.


    "So do you have any idea what this place is?"


    "Honestly, I don''t know. It is very close to the capital, but it has remained unnoticed for a very long time. When I found out about it, some of the higher ups started to take an interest in me. I''m telling you, something is wrong!"


    "You don''t have to tell us that twice."


    "By the way... Where did the girl go?"


    "Uh... Roisin! ROISIN!"


    The girl wandered off again. She truly was the adventurous type.


    The two of them walked up the stairs and saw her there.


    "Roisin, what were you thinking?!"


    "Look."


    "W-What?"


    In front of them was the man whose footprints they saw at the entrance. He seemed to be asleep, though that didn''t last for long. He rose up from the throne, and started to look around.


    The three of them were on their guard.


    "Um, who are you, if I may ask?"


    The tall figure looked at the girl. He stepped closer. This man was at least two times bigger than Shepherd, but for Roisin that didn''t matter.


    "I see, it seems your people occupied the near lands. None of you would have come so close in the past."


    "...What do you mean our people?"


    "Ah. Where are my manners? I am called Tarex. It is a pleasure to meet you. Now, I ask that you leave my domain."


    "What do you mean, we just got here a day ago!"


    "And your name is....?"


    "I''m Shepherd."


    "Ah. I see, I see. Look Shepherd, this is my land, my territory. And you came here uninvited, woke me up, and made so much noise. I am by all the rights allowed to throw you out."


    "Yeah? Just try me!"


    "...Do you challenge a king?"


    "Yes I do!"


    Having confirmed the man''s wish for battle, Tarex swiftly slapped him, and, in one smooth motion, threw him to the entrance of the castle.


    "See, you don''t have the right or the power to challenge me. Now you, girl. Take this other man and leave. Here is my home, my family, my... everything. You must understand how I feel."


    He started walking towards the castle entrance. What was on his mind, only he knew, but one thing was clear even for Roisin: The man who called himself king was without doubt lonely.

 Cold City

    The smell of fresh air, a joy for everyone. The moment when you can finally go out and take a breather.


    Tarex was outside the castle looking at the city he once knew. Behind him were Roisin and the fugitive, whose name was Cyrillus. The two of them were trying to pull out Shepherd out from the wall.


    "Good thing you had your enhancements."


    Roisin began to tickle Shepherd, just to tease him a bit. She was laughing a hearty laugh, while the older man did his best to keep a straight face. On the other hand, unfit for the pleasant scene before him, Tarex was simply standing there, looking in the void.


    Cyrillus, sitting a little ways away from the comedy duo, looked at the silent armored man next to him.


    "Is something wrong, your highness?"


    Cyrillus was intrigued by the self proclaimed king, and if he really was as old as he stated, that would be the perfect find for him. A living relic.


    "...We are in the the Grand City of Silacet, aren''t we?"


    Upon hearing the man''s words, Tarex tilted his steel-covered head towards him. For a few seemingly endless moments, he gazed in Cyrillus'' direction, his gaze apparently directed somewhere behind the man.


    The city he knew was the city of a golden era, full of people, life, joy and music. The city he knew was a beauty you could only know from bed time stories. What was standing in front of him was not at all what he knew. In this lifeless place, there weren''t any sounds, let alone any songs. Tarex could not fathom what had happened during his slumber.


    "...W-what is this? My people...my family...my brothers and sisters? W-where are they?!"


    Hearing the giant break down before them, both Roisin and the now liberated Shepherd quieted down and looked at him. They didn''t understand what had happened there, and so, after a few moments, they started explaining their findings.


    "Ahem, so, basically, there''s nobody here. I found some tracks, and they were pretty recent, so at first, I assumed they were from you, but seems I was wrong. Those seemed to be female footprints."


    Shepherd spoke to the king. Behind him, Roisin sat quietly, her laughing having been intrerrupted by Tarex''s sudden shout.


    "...So, there is nobody here... Nobody... Ahem, well I shall look around the city, to confirm it with my own eyes. Please leave today, or at least tomorrow! I don''t want people around, for the time being."


    "Well, we have to send this guy back, so we were going to leave anyway. I''m sorry we''re not who you expected. Sometimes, life just screws you over and won''t say sorry, so lemme do it instead. Hope it makes you feel at least a bit better. See ya."


    The three of them left the city. Everything seemed to be silent yet again, but life seems to return. Silacet, returning to it''s former state slow and steady.


    The king wandered off. He was in deep thought trying to put the pieces together.


    "What a joke. Nobody is here either. I wonder what happened with everyone... My kind lives forever, so it''s impossible for them to be dead. Seems I have to check the archives."


    In the capital city Shepherd and Roisin brought back the ''prisoner'' and went to talk with one of the nobles in the goverment. They were to report back after they came in the city. Get their money and no questions, that was all.


    "Well, I would like to say that it was a pleasure doing business with you, but I would lie."


    "Trust me, you were not my first choice either, yet that old hag said you are the one to be sent. Honestly I hate that bitch, thinking she is so high and mighty."


    "Hey mate, I don''t care, just give me the money and we won''t see each other again."


    The man threw the coin purse at Shepherd.


    "Here, take it and leave."


    Cyrillus was in his cell awaiting his punishment. He was just dropped off by Shepherd. The cell he was holded in was special. Under the capital''s palace.


    "Ah, those idiotic peices of shit, all I did was to search some artifacts and now they want me dead, sure, democracy. I hope someone will murder that bastard. I don''t want to die... I don''t..."


    At that moment a very tall woman came in front of his cell. She had medium-lenght hair, it was as gray as steel. The woman was wearing the same robes as him. She too was from the goverment. The color of the clothes sugested she had a higher rank than him though.


    "Are you Cyrillus?"


    "Y-Yes...?"


    "Good, I will talk with the guards to release you. I need you for something... special."


    He gulped, but his face lightened up.


    The guy who hired Shepherd and Roisin was named Hashim. He was in charge of the army and military operations. When he heard about that city he gave the order and sent around three hundred soldiers to set an outpost and search around the city. Of course he only knew about the city and not about the one who lived there.


    A few days later the soldiers arrived in the city. It was raining.They were wearing hide armor and some of them heavy mail armor. They camped under the buiilding ruins to dicuss the plan, what they need to find. After around half and hour Shepherd and Roisin came here as well.


    "Hey, what''s happening here?"


    The one in charge rose up and went to check them out.


    "This is a military operation, please leave this area as soon as possible."


    "This area, is not controlled by the capital, so you have no authority here."


    The soldier looked at Shepherd for a few seconds. He saw the enhanced weapons and armor and decided it was not worth the trouble. In the end, this was only an expedition.


    "So, found anything strange?"


    "No... but I can''t help but feel like we are being watched."


    "Hmmm... Hey Roisin, come here for a second!"


    The girl rushed to him.


    "Did anything happen?"


    He told her to get closer.


    "Watch out. If you wander off, there might be something in the city."


    "I understand."


    A unit of soldiers was returning to report. Then something strange happened.


    "Hey what''s that!?"


    The soldier looked at one of the gargoyle statues. It started to move. The stature created out of thin air a bow and shot an arrow right at the soldiers feet. Nothing happened, when they saw the force of the arrow they thought it might be something strong, but the arrow couldn''t even pierce the ground.


    It was a moment of relief, then the arrow started to glow.


    "EVERYONE SCATTER!"


    The arrow exploded and left a dark-purple mist behind for a few minutes.


    "Every soldier take cover!"


    The gargoyle saw they weren''t in its line of sight any longer, and was waiting. The soldiers were preparing for the fight. Shepherd was on his guard as well, but he didn''t draw his weapon.


    Suddenly the earth started to shake. The statues of knights started to move. The stone was transforming into metal and cloth. These knights were tall wielding straight swords and tower shields. They walked slowly, the plated armor was barely making any noise, but the steps were heavy and could be heard clearly.


    If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.The knights were searching for the intruders, but the soldiers hid quietly, waiting to ambush them.


    After waiting for waht seemed like an eternity, they started to rush out from their hiding spots and lunged at the knights with all they had.


    The sounds of swords clashing and screams could be heard in the entire city. Many soldiers would go and try to put down a knight, all ending in vain. It was as though they didn''t feel pain.


    The knights were very strong and could easily fight fifty soldiers at once, but these guys were tricky. With a lot of effort they managed to put one of the knights down.


    When the soliders looked inside the knights'' helmets, there was nothing. The suits of armor were empty. The knights were merely husks killing intruders.


    One of the knights was behind Shepherd. He looked at him, then moved on. Then his suspicion was confirmed.


    "Everyone sheate your weapons."


    "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING?!"


    "Yeah are you insane?!"


    Many soldiers gave him the same reaction.


    "Just do it and they will stop attacking."


    Everyone was reluctant about it, yet some of them tried, better than being butcherd. It was as he said, the knights started to ignore them. Even so, they lost more than half of the troops. Their morale was low and there didn''t seem to be a way of cheering them up any time soon.


    "Thanks mercenary, who knows what could have happened without your help."


    "You guys would be dead , that''s what. I can''t believe how you can be dumb enough to not at least try to observer the enemy."


    The soldier was annoyed by that affirmation, but it was the truth.


    "You have my deepest thanks."


    Even though he said that, his animosity was clear. He wished to strangle the Shepherd.


    The knights seemed to wander around like lost children for a while. In the end, they returned and transformed back into stone.


    Roisin was in the old garden near the castle stairway. She just couldn''t stay put. There were some flowers and herbs she didn''t know about. The girl wasn''t so interested in them, but even so, they were noted in her journal in case she ever needed.


    As she walked she heard some steps from a building nearby. It was large, not as big as the castle, but still large. Inside was Tarex, reading old manuscripts and scrolls. These were as old as him, if not even older, yet the paper was still intact.


    "Dark magic enhancements, no, not this one... Notes of a plague... Hmmm... W-What?"


    "Hello, your majesty!"


    "Ah, the annoying girl. I told you to leave, didn''t I?"


    "I don''t know. Hey, what language is that. I''ve never seen it before!"


    "This is a language of the old. While I speak your language as well, these scrolls are much older, they were written by a civilization that even my people could hardly understand... I love history. It''s like discovering a whole new world, but I suppose you wouldn''t get it. Wait a second, you didn''t answer my question!"


    Roisin''s eyes were sparkling. She found someone who shared her passion for history and the unknown. Even better, he himself was a relic of an unknown history.


    "Well, I do understand! Maybe I can help. While I don''t have so much information myself, in the capital there are lots of people that can help you with tons of records from the past years."


    "Hmm... It might worth a shot, but I still have to check around here. Maybe they left some notes."


    "You mean, your people?"


    "Indeed."


    She started to look around for something she could read. Unfortunately there was nothing she understood. Hope was not lost, however, there was one book. She could recognize the symbols.


    "Hey, what''s this book?"


    "Hmmm...? What indeed? I have never seen it in the archives before."


    "It says: "Alces Journal. Entry number eighty five: It seems I am the last one. My son, if you ever happen to find this, if you will ever awake from thy slumber, know that we won''t be here any longer. We will try to protect you, but when you finally read this, we might already be dead[...] A plague started fifty years ago. I never thought it was something so bad, but people started dying. In the beginning, I didn''t think it was something bad, but we managed to find the cure. That was no longer the problem . The dead bodies started to transform into vegetation. Everyone to move out. We couldn''t leave you here, so I remained. Your mother and siblings should be safe."


    "Did he note the year?"


    "No. There are more passages, if you wish to see, but they are not about this, and the other paragraphs written in that old language."


    "Interesting. Well, now I can calm down a bit. My family should be safe. If father believes it, then so it must be. As for him, I need to search. He must still be here, but the question is where exactly. There are many places around the city, and even more underground."


    "Where would he go, or what would he do, if he wanted to watch over you?"


    "Give me the book. I might find something in those paragraphs."


    She handed him the book. Outside, someone was coming. Shepherd found them, again...


    "Hey king. There is a little problem outside. Those statues, did you activate them?"


    "What do you mean? Why would I activate a statue? I can animate one, of course, but there were none that I ''activated''. Or, at least, that''s what I think. Who knows what the others did while I was asleep. Would you mind showing me what exactly happened?"


    "Come with me then. You too Roisin. It''s dangerous to be alone in this place. How many times do I have to tell you?"


    "Sorry..."


    The three of them went back to the place where the statues attacked. Tarex aproached one of them and checked for anything suspicious. He couldn''t find a thing.


    "So, you say when you draw a weapon they come to life, huh...?"


    "Try it yourself."


    Shepherd gave him a knife. He started to poke the statue, but it didn''t react in any way.


    "Hmmm. Draw your sword, Shepherd. Maybe they don''t react to my kind."


    He took the sword in hand. In that moment, the statue began to shake and transform yet again.


    "Alright, alright, now put it back."


    "So, what is this?"


    "It seems to be a new defense mechanism. I know something similar. These are called sentries, but it''s very, very strange."


    "Why is that?"


    "The sentries, would always come to life and patrol the streets. They were supposed to maintain order in the city, even so this ones only activate when you draw your weapon. I have to look forward into this."


    "What is there to look forward to? You don''t draw your weapons here, plain and simple."


    "I see your intellect is blocked at strike first ask the questions later. Try to think a bit before you start talking next time. I admire the fact that you are able to learn from your enemy though, but that is all."


    He was pissed, but Tarex said the truth. He couldn''t think straight, but that wasn''t the main reason. He simply wanted to stop the investigation. If things continued like this, Roisin would remain here to research with him, and that was the least thing he wanted.


    "Yeah, yeah I heard words like that many times over, but in the end the strongest survives and not the smartest."


    "You are wrong again, the one who wins must be indeed the strongest, but it has to be smart as well. "


    "Hmph."


    "Roisin, did you got anything from here last time you came?"


    "There were a few things in my satchel, why do you ask?"


    Everyone was looking around for whatever they could find. Tarex got closer to the girl and began to explain.


    "There might have been something I needed in your satchel. Could you get them back?"


    "Unfortunately, they are in the goverments possesion. I can''t get them back soon."


    "Could Shepherd help?"


    "Unless you give him some good equipment..."


    "Oh, that would be rather easy. Even our junk is better than your weapons and armors, no offense."


    He turned his back to Roisin and walked to Shepherd to give him the proposal.


    "So what do you say?"


    "I can''t say anything without seeing the goods."


    "Alright then, let''s go to the barracks."


    They walked for around half an hour, but now the barracks could be seen. Tarex let the two wait outside and went to take the rewards for Shepherd. It was cold outside, the rain stopped, but the same feeling of peace could be felt.


    "Alright, I think this might interest you."


    "A ring and a mask?"


    "The ring gives your armor higher resistance. You can get hit even with a balista and survive. It was forged when I was young for the royal guards. The mask is also a strong artifact. It will allow you to track anything, even flying beasts. These were used by the patrols, ah how I miss them."


    "Do you really think I''m that dumb to believe all this stuff. Listen you shit, give me something that would be worth my trouble."


    "If you really wish, you can test them first."


    He hesitated a bit, but got persuaded by his own curiosity.


    "Alright tell me when you are ready to be hit."


    "I''m as ready as I can get."


    "Alright Roisin, hit him as strong as you can."


    The girl used Shepherd''s sword with all her force. She was strong enought to fight and wield a sword, but what happened next was truly astonishing. It was for the two of them, the king simply watched unfazed.


    "I-I-It shattered!"


    Shepherd opened his eyes. The sword that should have cut his belly, was broken in tiny pieces.


    "S-S-So you weren''t lying..."


    "Would you accept my proposal then?"


    "Of course, but before that would you do something for me?"


    "What more would you ask of me?"


    Shepherd seemed sad, but there weren''t many option at this moment.


    "Keep Roisin safe. I know I wasn''t a father for her. I merely kept her safe and made sure she had something to eat. So please just keep her around until I return."


    Tarex understood. The truth is, he respected that man a little, but he respected him. Shepherd was a simple man, but honest.


    "That would not be a problem."


    "Shepherd, why do you go back alone?"


    "So I can let you explore around for a bit longer. When I return we are going to eat those delicious pancakes you love so much."


    He hugged the girl and left. He left this cold city of stone and went to retake the satchel.


    A few hours pass and Tarex with Roisin still roamed the city. It was getting dark, but that didn''t matter. They were close to the old church. Down this path were no satues of gargoyles or knights.


    The road trought the forest was paved with stone. There was no source of light down the path, but everything seemed so calm.


    Before the entrance to the church garden there were two large statues. Both of them made of quartz. They had two pairs of wings. The armor seemed to be plated. One of them wielding a fiery sword and the other a spear, holding in the other hand a scroll.


    "What are these?"


    "Well, I don''t know what you believe in, but these are Archangels. The guardians of heaven and the guardians of people."


    "Hmmm...? Most of the people in the capital don''t believe in a god. The goverment has a problem with religion as well."


    "Ah, well I believe weak people believe in god, to give them the strength and the will to continue. Those who won''t believe think they are strong enough and don''t want to rely on anyone, especially when they think it''s a fictional being."


    "Do you believe? I mean, you don''t seem the kind..."


    "I do believe, for God helped me in my time of need, so much that I lost count."


    "...Really?"


    "Hey, if I want to believe is my choice and if you ever want to do it, feel free."


    "So why are we going to the church?"


    "I just want to light some candles, for the dead and for the living."


    "Ugh... why?"


    "For the living to keep them safe and for the dead so their souls may rest in peace. Also there are the royal sentries and I want to check them out."


    "Why do you wanna do that?"


    "Would you stop asking me questions? For protection. There are people poking around quite a lot lately."


    "Hehe, sorry, but it was a beautiful city, even in it''s current state and I couldn''t stop from wanting to explore it. Well Shpeherd had to get that guy, but I already knew about this place so I took my chances and came with him."


    "I wasn''t talking about you, but I understand."


    On the left side of the church there were two rooms, separated. Here Tarex lit a candle and then moved to the other room and lit another one.


    "Are you done?"


    "Yeah..."

 One of a Kind

    Giants, angels or elves. They were seen as such and people kept telling legends about them. The truth was lost in time. The Nephilim, living for thousands of years, winged race of old.


    "Cuncta manus avidas fugient heredis, amico


    quae dederis animo..."


    The words got Roisin''s attention. They were strange, yet mesmerizing.


    "What is that?"


    "A sentry."


    "...No! I mean what did you say?"


    "Oh, just some old poetry."


    The two of them were near the cemetery. Here , were laying royal sentries. Their white armors were full of dirt and rust. The weapons on the ground were broken, while others were still intact.


    "So... are you going to activate them or what?"


    "Yeah, just checking them. They are in such a poor condition. When Shepherd returns I need him to bring a good blacksmith."


    "I don''t think there is anyone which may repair these... things."


    "Well, I need to put them back together. I could do it myself, but that would use a lot of energy."


    "Nothing is happening, so you might as well."


    "You do have a point..."


    He started to channel energy in the sentries. The armor began to tidy up. The weapons were put back together... They started to rise.


    "Ah, I used less than I tought. Nice."


    The sentries were now shining. The helmets with red crests, gauntlets like claws, spear in one hand and shield in the other. Their silver color truly made them look as knights.


    "They look familiar."


    "Have you seen them before?"


    "Not alive, but there were books which depicted them. Those were humans though, not living armors..."


    "Oooh... Our civilization is now a thing of stories in your culture, it seems."


    "Not only them. The gargoyles, the stone knights. These are from the oldest stories."


    "So I''ve lived long enough to become history. How amusing."


    He chuckled. The girl couldn''t see it, but the king smiled under his helmet. After a few hours more and more royal sentries started roaming the city.


    ? ? ?


    Further away some nasty figuers appeared. Three people, with hide and mail armor. They all had knives and short swords on them. Two were masked while the other one was a bald man with an evil smile on his face. Behind them were eight others, half of them on horses and the others in a carriage.


    The one with the gross smile started to look at the carriage.


    "Hmm, mhmmm, hehehe... Ey, can I have some fun, come on just a little bit. I wanna make them squeal a little.. M-ma-maybe even cut a finger or two. The look they have when they see the blood IS so... so beautiful."


    "You can''t touch them, you psychotic bastard. We have to get them intact. The orders were clear."


    "Come on, j-just a LITTLE bit, it won''t take long. They won''t even notice!"


    "He said no. Keep walking or I put a bolt in your head."


    "Argh... You are no FUN!"


    "We are on a mission. You can have all the fun you want in your spare time. Besides, they are just children. It''s gross."


    "You can''t really condemn him. Just look at that face."


    "True..."


    "You ASSHOLES! I ain''t talking shit about you. Should I mention what you did to that woman last week, EH?"


    "Alright, alright... Let''s keep moving."


    It was quiet. No humans, no birds, barely a few insects could be seen. Suddenly heavy steps were heard further ahead.


    "Be on your guard and don''t attack. Especially you baldy."


    "Yeah... Hey that''s rude!"


    In front of them was one of the sentries.


    "What was that?"


    The sentry simply went past them. They were to patrol the city and so they did. If there is nobody attacking it, the sentry will just walk.


    "Hey! Look there are more, they just walk around."


    "We need to find a location with less of those thing."


    "I wonder, h-how much would that armor fetch on the black market?"


    "From the look it''s made of silver, maybe twelve gold pieces?"


    "Only if it was simple silver armor. The craftsmanship, it might as well be enhanced or even enchanted. The price can go up to even five platinum pieces."


    "That... that''s a lot."


    "How would you even try to put something like that down. Even the captial elites might have trouble with such foes."


    "Well, when we return sometime, maybe we could put one of them down. For now let''s set camp somewhere."


    ? ? ?


    It was night. The children in the carriage were let outside for once. Some of them were in rags and others in fine clothes. Among them was a little girl with blue eyes and long blonde hair. She was frail and scared.


    A thought went through her head. Most of the bandits were asleep. It was her chance to run. Only if she wasn''t chained. Fate sometimes is harsh, but it''s said that hope dies last.


    A sentry happened to walk around at that moment. The girl looked at it and a chill went down her spine. It was as that thing stared into her very soul. She started to panic and the chain made some noise.


    The sentry seemed curious. It was strange, for they were only tools. A tool can''t be curious, as it can''t feel, yet this one came to the girl. The other children were asleep. It bent the knee and looked at the girl.


    "What are you?" The girl asked, but for some reason she felt as she shouldn''t have done it.


    The sentry was silent. It couldn''t speak, but saw the girls chain. With one fell swoop with the spear it broke the chain. He stretched his hand to the girl.


    She grasped the sentry''s cold hand and got up. The two of them left.


    One of the bandits saw what happened. Only if he could do anything, but what can one man do against such a foe?


    As the two walked the empty streets, others came around. Three other sentries were now in front of the weird one. They went behind him and tagged along.


    In the far woods, a girl looked towards the old ruins. She had beautiful wings and was dressed in golden plate armor. The helmet covering her head and face resembled a jester. Something was calling her.


    "Hmmm... Didn''t get chills like these in quite some time. Oh, ohohoho, I wonder if he woke up."


    She stretched her wings and took off to the sky.


    "Now let''s find out where you are, my dear, big brother."


    ? ? ?


    Two days passed. The capital was in a state of alert. The news about the soldiers that fell in the ruins spread quickly. Shepherd was trying to blend in the crowds. After walking for half an hour, he made it to the castle. It was time to inflitrate and recover Roisin''s satchel.


    The guards didn''t pay much attention. One of them was half asleep. Shepherd quietly got behind them and entered the building. The hallway was large and decorated with paintings, chandeliers and beautiful tapestry.


    There were but a few guards patroling, so it wasn''t hard to get into the treasury. Here were many coin purses, golden weapons, armors, jewels, but the satchel wasn''t anywhere to be found.


    "Damn, someone took it, or maybe it''s in another room. Gotta find out fast, or the guards will change shifts."


    He ran as fast as he could back to the entrance. Something was odd. The guards weren''t there anymore. For a moment, Shepherd wondered if they found out he was inside. In the very next moment he began to feel sleepy, slowly falling on the floor.


    "It seems that I found someone who should not be here. Let us get you to a beautiful place."


    The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.From a corner came Cyrillus. He saw the person that captured Shepherd. It was bad news, but he couldn''t say a thing. He waited for him to be taken away. He took a few deep breaths and started to think.


    "I was sent out of prison for some reason. He''s the one who got me there in the first place. I do not care what happens with him. Argh... At least I should tell someone about this."


    He went outside. Cyrillus needed someone with him to go back, yet there was nobody that could help.


    "Hey!"


    "..."


    "HEY!"


    "..."


    "I SAID HEY!"


    He was in deep thought, but in that moment he jumped. A strange person was next to him.


    "W-Wh-Who are you?"


    "My name is Cory. I think we can help each other."


    "Is that so..."


    "I need to get to a certain place. You might need to go there as well. My problem is that I forgot the way. You need someone to get you there safely. We both win right?"


    "I have a hard time believing, you need to go to the same place as me. What do you get from it...? W-what are you?!"


    "To see my brother. Also, I kind of lied. I apologize. Even so, you are rather rude."


    "What?"


    "I was near the old city, and I got excited when I sensed him."


    "What does that have to do with the fact you are here now, or that you know what I need!"


    "First of all. I got excited and flew pretty far away. Also I didn''t know. I simply planned to say the same thing to as many people as I could, until someone said they know the way. Guess I didn''t have to look for long."


    "Alright, alright... Then I have a favor to ask of you."


    "Don''t you think it''s too early for that? We just met, and we don''t know each other good enough to do something like that."


    He clicked his tongue. She was mocking him. Cyrillus didn''t exactly enjoy it, but kept it together nonetheless.


    "There is someone who can get you there. Somebody took him. I can show you where he was sent, but I can''t help you any more than that."


    "Awww, you are so boring. Alright, show me the way."


    The prison was heavily guarded. They even have two ballistas in case someone tried to escape .


    "He is somewhere inside, should be easy to recognize him. Also, his name is Shepherd, if it helps with anything."


    "Thanks, I won''t forget it."


    ? ? ?


    The girl stretched her wings and flew in front of the prison. The guards were shocked. They assumed defensive positions.


    "Hehe, have I done something wrong?"


    "Identify yourself!


    "My name is Cory. I am a royal harlequin. I am nineteen.... thousand years , more or less. You know, after so much time you kinda tend to forget."


    "Stop fooling around and tell us the truth!"


    "Oh? It was the truth! Ufufufufu! They told me I''m a harlequin, but they should have seen you. Stupid monkeys. Give me the man named Shepherd and I won''t kill you all. Probably."


    "H-How dare you..."


    On the top of the building stood a strange man. He was holding a black spear. His armor was glowing purple. The helmet resembled a dragon head.


    "This man, you need him?"


    "Yeah."


    "Well, then, Catch!"


    The man threw the body to her feet. Others might have been scared. The girl though, only felt anger and disgust.


    "Is this a joke?"


    "Oh no, I simply answered your request. That is Shepherd. You are causing a comotion, please leave now."


    "He... HeHe-Hehehehe!"


    "What is so funny?"


    "Alright, funny guy. It seem I have to show you... What I do to defilers.


    She leaped at the man and punched him with lethal force.


    "Oh. It seems I underestimated you girl."


    In that moment, the two ballistas shot the girl.


    "It seems I was wrong. You have no honor. Should have guessed, when you threw a body like it was nothing."


    She caught the bolts in her hands.


    "A harelquin fights gracefully, with scimitars, dancing on the battlefield. We mock battle itself. You do not deserve to see such elegance."


    Her personality shifted. The girl was now composed.


    "Say your name, monkey."


    "W-Why should I tell you that?"


    "As you wish. You will be forgiven, for today... I shall put an end to your misery."


    This time the man took the initative and tried to imaple her with the spear. It was useless, for she dodged as if it was nothing.


    "I see that you are pretty skilled."


    "Oh, the monkey can give compliments too?"


    "It was just a statement."


    He enhanced his weapon with dark magic and boosted his speed with a potion. Then he plunged again. He struck again and again, hundreds of times in mere minutes. However, it was all in vain.


    "Geting tired with that spear?"


    With his last remaining breath he tried to strike again. Once again, the girl simply dodged.


    "I... I surrender. It seems I have no chance to defeat you at this moment in time."


    "Hehe, remember what I told you. You will be forgiven..."


    She went close to the knight and hugged him. For the first time, he felt warm. He felt happy. For the first time, he felt as there was a place for him in this world. Slowly his vision started to blur. It was geting darker and darker, until he collapsed.


    "You will be forgiven... In the afterlife. I won''t give mercy for those who would defile a corpse."


    The guards were gathering to grab the girl, but then they saw it. A majestic being descending from the skies. The angelic wings, the golden shining armor. They were left in awe as if a messenger from God arrived.


    They dropped their weapons and kneeled.


    "Eeeh...? In any case, desecrating a corpse like that, it''s awful. I don''t think it was Shepherd, though. Gotta look around for a bit."


    She entered the prison and started searching. In the cells were only bandits, criminals and dead bodies.


    Further below she managed to find him. The man named Shepherd, in quite a bad condition.


    "Are you able to walk?"


    "Arghm.... I think so..."


    "Why are you in such a place?"


    "They... found me..."


    "Hmmm. Well we are going to discuss on the road."


    "Wh-Where are we...."


    "Shut up. You are safe now."


    The girl took him in her arms. It was a funny image, as she was pretty small compared to the man. Nevertheless, that didn''t stop her.


    She left the prison with Shepherd in her arms. Cory stretched her wings and flew outside the capital walls.


    "Are you going to survive?"


    "Hmhmmh....."


    "Oh... He is asleep. Well it seems I have no choice."


    She searched for a tree and sat under it. She made a fire and got the man close to her. He was so close. Cory simply watched the fire as he slept with his head leaned on her shoulder.


    ? ? ?


    The next day, Shepherd finally woke up.


    "Damn, I had such a weird dream. HEY ROISIN, WHERE ARE YA?"


    "Please don''t scream in my ear."


    "Oh... OOHHHH... Fuck."


    He was befuddeled by the fact it wasn''t a dream.


    "Someone told me you can help me find the ruins of Silacet."


    "What is your business there?"


    "To see my brother. He was asleep for quite a long time."


    "By brother... You don''t mean Ta-..."


    "Tarex, yes. It seems you did meet him."


    "Well, I am going to take you there. You saved my life, so that''s the least Ican do. Can you answer me some questions though?"


    "Once we start moving."


    "Alright."


    The two of them got up from where they were sitting. The road was muddy yet the smell of forest was refreshing. It was sunny and the breeze was pleasant.


    "Such a beautiful day..."


    "Tell me now, what did you wish to know?"


    "First of all, what are you guys and are there others like you?"


    "We are the Nephilim."


    "Ugh... Can you be more specific?"


    "Oh, I''m sorry. Sometimes I forget how long your kind lives. You see, since ancient times, we were considered mythical beings. Even every other race, such as the elves and the orcs believed the same. We are simple, fragile creatures, just as you. We discover new and beautiful things, but we also have our beliefs. "


    "So if you were so free, and everyone thought you were just some legends what happened?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "The ruins. Nobody but your brother lives there."


    "Ah... These are some uncomfortable memories..."


    Shepherd saw her sadness, even through her helmet. He could hear it in her voice.


    "If you don''t want to share them, it''s alright."


    "I will tell you just this. Every single one of our people is born with wings. My brother... My sweet, sweet big brother... was born with none."


    "So he had no wings. I don''t really see a problem! Well, he couldn''t fly, but other than that?"


    "He was a prince. Everyone shunned him. His brothers. His bigger sisters. The guards, the soldiers, all the same. Our parents loved him, but even they were distant from him. He was doing all that he could to help everyone, yet they all looked at him with disgust."


    "Well... That is unfortunate."


    "Later, when he was chosen by our father to become the next king... They came with an idea. That the new kings should always sleep on the throne. Every few years, he was to wake up and check how everyone was doing."


    "All good from my point of view. Being, a king and being left to sleep instead of being made, to learn stupid stuff."


    "You don''t get it. When they put him to sleep, he didn''t wake up when he was supposed to. Only once did I feel him awake, but I was too far away. Now, I am here, and I want to get to him as fast as possible."


    She started walking faster.


    "Hold on now. Don''t rush. Also, why do you have to get to him so fast?"


    "Because he was betrayed. I need to tell him the truth about our family."


    "So you are just going to leave me behind?"


    "If I have to, yes."


    "But, I am the one who knows the way."


    She felt dumb. In that moment, the girl realized that she wanted to leave behind the only person that could help her.


    "Hehe..."


    "Yeah, I don''t even wanna hear about it. Let''s go."


    "Aren''t you mad?"


    "I have to deal with a brat worse than you nearly every day of my life."


    "How dare you call me a brat! I am around twenty thousand years old. Watch your mouth, young man."


    "Then should I call you granny?"


    Cory was angry at that rethorical question.


    "Why, you!"


    "Alright, calm down."


    "In any case, let''s just go."


    "Heh."


    ? ? ?


    Back in the ruins, Tarex was trying to make something for Roisin to eat. He wasn''t an extraordinary chef, pretty far from it. He could make edible food, at the very least.


    "Don''t expect me to make something very good."


    "I''m starving,. I don''t care how bad it is."


    He finished baking some bread.


    "You... Only made some bread?"


    "There isn''t anything else around to make you something exquisite. So I''m sorry, little princess, but you are have to eat some bread."


    "Fine..."


    "I''m going to check the barracks. It seems there are some sentries that are waiting there."


    "Sure, whatever."


    "Someone is grumpy today..."


    He left the kitchen while Roisin was munching the bread. The hallways were dark and the walls humid.


    Inside the barracks, the sentries were waiting. On a bench, the girl they saved was sleeping. Tarex took a look at them.


    "Which one of you saved her?"


    The one who did it came in front of him.


    "So it was you... Tell me, what would you do if I were to kill that girl?"


    The sentry seemed angry. It clutched its fists and started trembling.


    "I see. So you do have emotions. Nobody told me what you were. I presumed, you were only tools. It seems I was wrong."


    It seemed to have calmed down.


    "Alright, find the people who held this girl. I felt some around the archives. Go!"


    All the present sentries took the spears and shields and started running towards the archives.


    ? ? ?


    The bandits were poking around to find the girl they lost. The carriage was outside. Two of them were guarding it.


    "How could you let her escape?"


    "I couldn''t even wake you up. That thing scared the shit out of me..."


    "S-Say, if I find her first. C-Can I have some FUN with her, he he HE HEHEHEHEH!"


    "Ah, look what you did. Now we gonna have to keep him in check as well."


    "I''m really sorry."


    "H-Hey, did you hear that?"


    Twenty sentries surrounded the area. Four of them were around, the carriage. The others entered the archives and blocked the exits. All of them were on standby.


    "We might have some problems."


    "Wh-WHAT do we do now now?"


    "Wait. Someone must be coming. Otherwise they would have etiher killed us or simply went back to wherever they came from."


    The sentries made way for Tarex as he entered the room. To his side was the little girl.


    "It is indeed as you say. Tell me, what business do you have here?"


    "We are just... merchants?"


    "Please do not take me for a fool."


    They were rather frightened by the king''s look.


    "W-Who might you be, then?"


    "My name is Tarex. This is my city, my home. And you are trespassing. Before you try to lie again, take that into account."


    "We are merchants. Well, not the same type you might be used to. We sell quite a large amount of stuff. From weapons to vegetables... even humans..."


    "Please do not be afraid. There is no rule that would hold you responsible for selling humans."


    "Is that so... Then might you retrun that girl to us? Techinically, she was stolen."


    "Hmmm... No."


    "I see... WHAT?"


    "While there are no rules, I can not say I love the thought of selling other living beings. Let us make a deal. How much would the children you have get you?"


    "About five gold pieces each."


    "I shall give you something better."


    He made a sign with his hand to a senty. Soon after it came with a small chest.


    "Take it and look inside. If you like it, it will only cost you these kids. Maybe some of your future services as well, but we shall talk about it later."


    The bandit took the chest and looked inside. He was left speechless. Inside it were a few hundred platinum pieces. If he took those, living would be a breeze. A castle, food and all the women he could ever wish for.


    "Deal! I will do anything! Well, as much as I can do..."


    "Good. For now, take it and leave. Also, the crazy one will remain."


    "W-What?!, they won''t sell me out like that. Rigjt lads?"


    None of them cared in the least.


    "OH, COME ON! I will remember this.!"


    "Come closer."


    "Whaddya want?"


    He put his hand on the the bandit''s head.


    "Show me your life.... Ah, I see. You are the lowest of scum. I will not sully my soul with your sins. Sentries, take him to the solitary chamber."


    "WH-WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?"


    "You will repent. Someday, I will find a priest to grant you an audience. If you will be forgiven I shall put you to some good use."


    "Leave me... LEAVE ME! LEAVE ME ALONE!"


    "I will make sure that you will feel. You will feel everything they felt!"

 The Nephilims

    The elves, they live for thousand and thousands of years and yet they someday depart from this world. Immortality is a curse and the Nephilim were the cursed ones. The elves hated them for that curse. They saw it as a blessing and so... they waged war.


    War engulfed the age of old. After many years the Nephilim managed to emerge victorious. The elves while defeated were not exterminated and were given another chance.


    Since then only the elders remember who the Nephilim were. The mighty rulers of this world. With time, the younger races heard about these mighty warriors only in stories. Now they don''t even know their name.


    "We curse them for their power, but we thank them for their kindness."


    The elders are but a few and were granted the curse of the Nephilims. They believed it will grant them the blessing they longed for. That was a lie they kept telling to themselves.


    "Protect the young ones, they should never know about our fate."


    The grand fortress city of Silacet, once the center of power is just a ruin. The Nehpilims vanished from this realm and those who were found... tortured and killed.


    "Never will they rule again, this we all swear for that is what they wished."


    "Death."


    ? ? ?


    The capital city was restless. After an elite knight was found dead, and as the rumors kept spreading across the city, everything began to be even more agitated. In response to this, the goverment officals gathered to discuss what should be done.


    Inside, Cyrillus was waiting for the discussions to end. From the other side of the hallway, a knight and his subordinate were coming.


    They both were wearing enhanced armor made from carbon steel. While it was not enchanted, it still was extremely durable and resilient. The man was tall with spikey blonde hair and green eyes. The girl had large twin drills, her eyes red and her skin as pale as the moon.


    Cyrilus looked at them and bowed. He felt anxious.


    "It is a pleasure to meet you lord Gawter. Excuse my rudeness, but who is the girl?"


    "Ah, you must be that historian who fled. Don''t worry about it, that woman told us everything . If you are in trouble, you can always call on us. As for the girl, she is my subordinate. Her name is-"


    "My name is Lamia, pleased to make your acquaintance."


    Suddenly, Cyrillus felt even more anxious.


    "I-I-It is my pleasure!"


    "Then I think the meetings should be over. Tell me, do you know what actually happened with that elite knight?"


    "Well... There was a winged girl... and she killed him."


    "That is even less than what the guards know... It is unfortunate that we lost Corax, but I need something else."


    "If it helps, I heard that she killed him because he defiled a corpse."


    "Hmmm. I do understand that one might be annoyed by this, but to kill for such a reason?"


    The doors opened and from behind came a woman. She was the very same person that got Cyrilus out of prison.


    "Y-Y-You!"


    "Hoho, it seems I was right to get you out. Please tell Tarex and Cory to visit sometime. Oh and Lamia, take this."


    She handed the girl a book and left.


    "Who is that woman?"


    "In the goverment, she is the most influential person. Nobody knows her name, nobody knows where she lives. It is truly hard to talk with her. If she wants you to do something you better do it. She is also the one who told us about you."


    "Alright..."


    "Lamia, what is that book? Oh, I see it''s elven writing."


    "It is something about the old war?"


    "What old war? There was that one about five decades ago, but nothing else comes to mind."


    "It goes like this: The war between the Elves and the Nehpilim lasted for years. It ended with the Nephilims as winners. The Elves never forgave them for what they did, but in time, it was as if nothing even happened. When the orc hordes tried to take over the realm, the Nephilims were nowhere to be found. The so called rulers of the world were now gone when everyone needed them. What they left behind is nothing one should search for. The tools they used were evil machines, abominations and soldiers that would never truly die."


    "So there was a great war between the Elves, Orcs and these Nehpilims?"


    Cyrilus was thinking and then he realized something. There was a scroll in the archives of Silacet. He saw something similar to this as well.


    "If I am not mistaken, the Nehpilims were the ones who enslaved the Elves."


    "There are also some paragraphs about weapons and technology they left behind."


    "Well, tell us."


    "It is a strange crossbow called Desolator, a crossbow capable of easily shooting down hundreds of soldiers . Also, there are some strange armors: Never should you fight the sentries of the Nehpilim, these cruel abominations are tortured souls sealed in unbreakable armors."


    "So that''s wha--... Well I think I''m going now."


    "...Hmmm...?"


    "Goodbye. May we meet again and drink some tea."


    "Of course."


    He left in a hurry. The lord seemed to let him go rather easy.


    "Say, why did you let him go?"


    "We are going to follow him. Maybe we find something interesting."


    ? ? ?


    Nearly a week had passed, and Cyrilus managed to reach the ruins. Everything was different though. The ammount of vegetation which ensared the city could barely be seen now. Animals and birds finally emerged as well. Some water roads appeared along the main paths as well.


    "Oh my. This is fascinating."


    "Cyrillus? CYRILLUS!!!"


    Roisin saw the man and ran towards him like a bolt.


    "Say, what happened in the capital?"


    "It was... interesting,. I have to talk with Tarex."


    From above, Cory descended behind Cyrilus. She made sure he couldn''t hear nor see her.


    "What do you want with my brother?"


    "AH FUCK! Damn it, don''t do that. My heart nearly stopped for a few seconds there."


    "Say! What do you want with him?"


    "I have some news from the city."


    The three of them went inside the castle.


    "Cory, when did you and Shepherd arrive?"


    "A few hours ago at best."


    "I see. Why though? You left before me."


    "There were some problems along the road."


    Images of her and Shepherd falling from bridges or in traps and barely managing to save him flashed before her eyes.


    "Something wrong?"


    "Nothing!"


    Outside, Gawter and Lamia were wandering the city. It was rather peaceful compared to the noise of the capital.


    "I think I found something from your book..."


    "What do you mean?"


    In front of them was a sentry. It was much taller than him and the difference in skill could be felt by only looking at it.


    "Even the armor. Hey Lami, would you mind checking his power levels?"


    "Sure, it''s about... oh my. No, better not."


    "I must know. What, do you want to fight it with me here?"


    "Your rank is Archon. This armor has a rank of Serpent."


    "What is a Serpent in ranking?"


    "You remember that dragon we fought a while back, along with the ten elite knights. That dragon was a Calamity."


    "So... Which is stronger?"


    "Definitely these ones."


    "What... You mean this thing is that much stronger than a dragon?"


    "Yes. Also about the armor. I can''t indentify the material, but it''s enhanced . It also has enchantments for poison, magic and fire resistance. They are nearly imune to those."


    "The only ones who could fight these guys would be the strange knights from the neighboring country. Ulric could also put them down, but I can''t aprove his methods."


    "It can''t be helped. Lets see where he went."


    "Time to go."


    As they walked throught the ruins, the two of them saw the plaza and the archives as well. In the end, they reached the castle and went up the stairs. The walls were crumbled and full of moss. Further away, they found the throne room.


    "It seems there is somebody else here. Lamia, keep your guard up."


    As they aproached the figure became clear. A great horned beast sleeping soundly.


    "What...? Who are you?"


    Tarex was asleep, yet the two of them managed to make enough noise to wake him up.


    "What, ugh more people in my city..."


    He rose from his seat and looked at them. The moment he saw the girl, he fully woke up.


    Tarex closed the gap between them in a few seconds.


    "What! What are you doing!?"


    He lifted the girl up and looked her in the eyes.


    "Cute."


    "What...?"


    "Put her down!"


    "I will not do that, thank you very much."


    He put the girl on his shoulders then looked at Gawter.


    "Now, say, what are you doing here?"


    "We followed a man. Thought we might find some answers."


    "You came for answers,but I''m afraid you might leave with more questions."


    The girl pulled on one of his horns to make him pay attention.


    "Excuse us for the intrusion, my name is Lamia and this is lord Gawter. We came from the capital. From what I''ve seen, you don''t have enough power to live through a war. You should be careful with officials from the goverment."


    "Oh, I''ve never wished for war in the first place. I really hate ending lives. If I have to, I will go to war, and believe it my lady... I have more than enough power to set this world ablaze."


    "Even if you say that, all she''s seen were those sentries. While they are indeed remarkable, even those can fall."


    "Then, the the lady here should take a look at me and tell you how bad it would be to annoy me."


    "You have quite a high opinion of yourself."


    "Sure... This is strange. There is only a symbol with a lock in the shape of a skull. What rank is this?"


    "What?"


    "I''ve Never seen something like this."


    "That is the symbol of the Binder."


    They didn''t get to end the conversation, as the others entered the room. Roisin was pestering Shepherd while Cyrilus was behind the looking around. Cory jumped in the middle of the room.


    "BIG BROTHER! I have RETURNED!"


    "Hi Cory."


    She took a look at the girl on her brother''s shoulders. It pissed her off a bit.


    "Say, big bro... Who is she?"


    "I dunno?"


    "Then... WHY is she on your shoulder?! I should be there...."


    "Because she is cute. I won''t put her down."


    "Oh really?"


    She moved in swiftly and smashed Tarex in the ground.


    "I''m sorry for my big bro. He does things like this sometimes, he he."


    "It''s alright. I don''t really mind it, but I would prefer to be asked before he does that."


    Tarex got up and went to her.


    "Can I carry you again?"


    Pointless to say, but he got smashed in the floor again.


    "Alright, took care of that. My name is Cory. No need to introduce yourselves. I know who you are from a certain mercenary."


    "Don''t drag me into this, Cory!"


    "In any case, you are an elf, right? What is with the red eyes? If I remember corectly, only a few of you have that color."


    "I''ve been told that I''m a blood elf. What that is exactly, I don''t know."


    "Oh, I know. Never saw one but I have some knowledge about your kind."


    "I think I know a few things about you, as well, Nephilim."


    "Don''t put me and my brother in the same category as the others."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Alright, story time. This is mostly for you, brother. Come closer, everyone, and let me tell you about the secret of the royal family."


    Lamia wondered why the girl would simply tell their secrets. She wouldn''t refuse such an opportunity, but something felt wrong.


    They all gathered around her, intrigued by what that secret could be.


    "Even if you can find some information in the ancient books, the truth is nowhere to be found. My brother is an experiment and they say deemed him a failure . They hated and resented him. While our mother was always trying to protect him, our father would beat her and us. He didn''t care. Out of ten children, only me and two others truly loved Tarex and our mother. We always stood by their side. The others only saw him as a project."


    Cyrillus stopped her for a bit.


    "What does this have to do with our sitiuation?"


    "You are involved with us now. So I believe you should know what you got into."


    Gawter rose up and told her what was on his mind.


    "I think I know where this is going. You want us to help, now that you told us your secrets. The question is, what do you want us to do?"


    "Help us find our brothers and sisters... and kill them."


    Everyone was a bit shocked at hearing this, but it seemed the conversation was going in that direction.


    "So, they bullied your brother. Why do you want them dead?"


    "They created wicked weapons and soldiers to throw this world in chaos. I just want to stay here and live in peace. That won''t happen while theyre still alive. Tarex feels the same way."


    Lamia went closer to the king.


    "What did they exactly do to you?"


    "Hey Cory. Stretch your wings."


    "Why?"


    "Just do it."


    As she stretched her wings, everyone thought the same thing. Such beauty, with splendid feathers glowing bright.


    "Now these are mine..."


    "But... you don''t have wings., right?"


    Dark energy poured out from under his armor. The pressure affected everyone. They took the form of wings. If one were to compare the girl''s wings to his, it was clear. Hers were like an angel''s ,while he had the wings of a reaper.


    "This is what they were trying to do. To turn me into a reaper."


    "That can''t be..." Cyrillus spent enogh time in the archives to understand the true danger of such a being.


    Nobody but Cory and Cyrillus knew what he meant.


    "Can we get a quick explanation?"


    "A reaper is a being older than the Nephilims and the elves. They are few with the power to raze a city only by only a snap of the finger. They are horrifying creatures, indeed."


    "So that means they were trying to create artifical reapers. Lord Gawter, I think I saw something about this in the book that woman gave me."


    "What is it?"


    "One of you brothers might live in a fortress. It''s in the north of the elven capital city."


    "Well, for now, I will leave it at that. It''s only been a few days and people keep coming into my life. I don''t like it, but it is nice not beign alone all the time. Let us have a party.I''m gonna tell the bandits to go and buy some food and drinks."


    "What bandits?"


    Gawter was a bit suspicious about that response.


    "Oh, nothing."


    ? ? ?


    A few hours passed and the night came. Everyone was dancing around the fire. The bandits were there as well, while the children were running around, playing and keeping an eye on their kidnappers. Tarex was standing on the castle''s balcony, looking at them. He removed his helmet. There were a few bottles of wine on the floor.


    "This is some good wine. Eh, who''s there?"


    Lamia came and joined him.


    "You seem rather displeased, your highness."


    "It''s... nothing..."


    "I was wodnering what was hiding under that helmet. Is this a special ocassion?"


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story."You could say that..."


    The king had long white hair. The girl liked it quite a bit, but she wuldn''t show it. He kept a bottle in his hand and stared at the sky. Lamia couldn''t see his face, yet there was something attracting her. The clear night sky, the cold breeze and the rustle of the forest were truly hypnotizing.


    The king put the bottle on the balcony''s railing and sighted.


    "Tell me... Have you ever killed someone?"


    "No, I have fought quite a lot, but I''ve never killed someone."


    "Look at this helmet. It''s stained with the blood of countless lives. I can''t bear so many sins."


    She got closer to him. He turned to her and looked at the sad look the girl had.


    "You know your majesty, we all have our problems. If sharing them with me will ease your pain, then I will listen."


    He hugged her warmly. For once, he felt secure. For a moment, he had no worries. It was pleasant and, for some reason, nostalgic.


    "I''m sorry, and thank you Lamia. I don''t know why I did it. I let my emotions control me for a bit... he he..."


    "There is no problem."


    "Also... Call me Tarex. Hearing your majesty so many times feels awkward."


    "Alright you-... Tarex."


    ? ? ?


    Hours passed, and everyone was asleep. Tarex put his helmet on and went to the throne room. It was dark. Insects were crawling around and the torches were snuffed out.


    As he walked along the seemingly endless hallway, strange shapes appeared on the floor, on the walls, even on the ceiling. They started to whisper.


    "...Accursed king..."


    He ignored them.


    "...Murderer..."


    He kept walking. They were not there.


    "...Cursed child..."


    He felt as though they knew something, but he knew they weren''t there.


    "...Traitor...Horror..."


    He was sitting now on the throne, shadows surrounding him, reminding him of the past. They would not stop. They kept telling everything he did wrong. They hated him, even thoughthey did not exist.


    "You are not real... not real...not real...not real...."


    "...We are... For we are you..."


    They all took the shape of the king.


    "We are you... As you are us. Accept us... Free us..."


    "Never! I won''t accept it."


    The shadows looked toward the entrance. They saw Lamia, yet she couldn''t see them. However the voices could still be heard.


    "Accursed one... We shall never leave...We will always be there...Vengeful one..."


    He didn''t know what to do anymore. Tarex could only remember the past and all the sorrow he brought. The terror and death, the thoughts wouldn''t fade.


    "Tarex...?"


    When he heard the girls voice he snapped out of it.


    "Yes! Oh, what is it Lamia?"


    "Who were those?"


    "They... They were nothing to be concerned about. Please leave and let me rest."


    "As you wish."


    The girl went outside, feeling thousands of daggers piercing her heart as she left the king alone. When she looked at him, he was a total wreck, and hoped she might comfort him! Alas she couldn''t do it.


    ? ? ?


    The sun rose up and the birds started to chirp. Everyone was waking up.


    "Ey Roisin, bring me some water..."


    "Get it yourself, you lazy bum, I wanna sleep more."


    "Gowter, bring me some water..."


    "Arghh... My head hurts..."


    "Cyrillus!"


    Cyrillus drank too much. He was out for the count.


    "Ahhh, alright. I''m going alone."


    Suddenly a bucket of water was poured on him.


    "HEY!"


    Tarex was on the balcony. He laughed a bit.


    "What is it? I heard you wanted some water. Did you not?"


    "I wanted to DRINK some water!"


    "Not my problem."


    "Only if you weren''t that strong."


    "Hoho, you want another duel''?"


    "No thanks..."


    "By the way Shepherd, did you see Cory anywhere?"


    "Not really, she drank with us last night, then, ugh... I can''t remember."


    "Tell the others to wake up and wash themselves. You guys are starting to stink..."


    "HEY!"


    He sniffed himself a bit. The stench truly was horrible.


    "Alright, this time I won''t complain."


    "The sentries repaired the baths. You can go right now."


    "Well, gotta wake these guys..."


    "Good luck."


    ? ? ?


    It was sunny and, for some reason, people kept coming to these ruins. Of course, the ones Tarex knew about were the kids he saved, the bandits which serve him now and the funny trio. Now others are also taking interest in this old ruined city. Poor people, fugitives, traitors and criminals all come here to find refuge.


    Tarex was near the plaza when he saw people selling different items. The caravans were full of weapons, exotic foods, books and diverse tools. There were quite a few around trying to sell whatever they had as well, mostly vegetable and fruits.


    Life was starting to come back in Silacet, but it wasn''t truly a good thing, He didn''t have the resources to keep everyone safe or fed.


    A bit further ahead was the girl he saw with the sentry captain.


    "Hey, tell me, what is this?"


    She didn''t respond to him.


    "Alright, I will have you carry out some errands for me."


    "But-"


    "Don''t want to hear it. I saved you, so at least help me out a bit. I will call the captain and send him with you to the capital. Here, have some money. Find the traders and ask them to visit. If you do it, I will give you something good."


    "Alright..."


    Tarex went to find the captain of the sentries and then sent the two of them off.


    "Now, I wonder where Lamia is... and Gawter."


    The road through the forest was hard to traverse for most people trying to go through it. However, that wasn''t a problem for a sentry. The little girl was falling behind though. The captain noticed that , so he took her on top his shoulders.


    It was quiet. The girl was silent as well.


    "Uhm... Do you like your king?"


    The sentry stopped for a bit, then he resumed his walking.


    "Yes."


    It was quite curious for him to have second thoughts about his master.


    "Do you know what to do?"


    He nodded.


    "Why don''t you speak?"


    "...."


    "It''s alright. I won''t speak anymore if it bothers you."


    "No..."


    "Should I speak then?"


    "Yes..."


    The girl kept talking with the captain about everything that happened to her. Without even realizing it, they reached the capital.


    "Hey, can you put me down now?"


    "Yes..."


    "Thanks. I am going to find these people the king spoke about."


    "Yes..."


    The girl left while the sentry remained under a tree outside the city''s walls.


    A young man was waiting outside the trading guild hall. He saw the little girl and waved his hand. She walked up to him.


    "Hey, what are you doing alone like that? There are many bad people around, especially after we lost one of the elites."


    "Who?"


    "You don''t know who the elites are?"


    "No..."


    "Let me tell you about them. First, let''s go inside."


    There were many people. Some were drinking, others were moving crates around. It was noisy, but everyone seemed to be nice.


    "Hey, are your parents around this part of the city?"


    "My parents aren''t here."


    "Oh, so where are they?"


    "I don''t know."


    He understood what that meant. Others heard it as well.


    "You can stay here if you want."


    A large man came to them.


    "It is as he says. You are welcome to stay here, kid."


    "No thanks. I have to find traders."


    Everyone started to laugh.


    "Hey girl. Do you know what a trader is?"


    "No..."


    "Well, this is the trader''s guild. You found them. So, what brings you here?"


    "The king said to give you this and tell you come visit his city."


    The man took the bag in order to check what was inside. When he opened it, he was left stunned for quite a while. Inside, there were five platinum coins. When the others saw them, they realized that something big was happening. At least that''s what they thought.


    "...Who gave you this money?"


    "A man. He says he''s the king of Silacet. He always wears a helmet with huuuuge horns."


    They didn''t know what to think about this.


    "Say, what does the king want?"


    "He just said to find traders."


    "Unfortunately, we can''t do much. There are some problems at the moment. Take the money back and tell your king we can''t really help with anything yet."


    "But..."


    "I''m sorry, kid. If you want, we can find someone to get you back."


    Some rather peculiar individuals came in through the door. They had enhanced weapons and armor.


    "Do you have the money for this month?"


    "Give us one more week!"


    "You had your time, guys. Can''t really do much about it... What''s with the kid?"


    "Nothing. We will pay you. Girl, please do us a favor and give one of these coins. We will repay you as soon as we can, we promise."


    "Sure, he has lots of them anyway."


    The one in front saw the money and realized the girl might prove to be more valuable.


    "We will absolve you of your debt if you give us that girl."


    "No, I can''t... I will not do something like that! I have a family as well, you know. How do you think I would feel if I let this girl die? You will only get to her over my dead body."


    "That can be arranged, old man."


    The six of them drew their swords. They kept advancing.


    "Captain!"


    They felt a strange thing behind. One of them looked, only to be kicked to the other side of the room.


    "What is this?"


    The captain stood there tall as a tree and strong as a mountain. That''s how they saw him, at least. An armored monster, standing in front of them.


    "There are six of us. It ain''t like you can beat all of us."


    "...Never... Touch.... My... Child...."


    He raised his shield and stomped one of them in the floor. He threw the spear imapling the one stucked in the wall. The four remaining men took defensive positions.


    One of them jumped on his back while the other two tried to stab him. It seemed like it worked.


    "Ha ha. Told you pal, you can''t fight six people."


    They took a closer look and started to tremble. The only thing they stabbed was air, the armor was emptry and not even dented.


    "Wh-What are you?"


    He threw the one on his back over the other two assailants. Then he got his shield and went after them.


    They tried to attack again, but that same thing wouldn''t work two times.


    The one who tried to attack him from behind got his neck broken.


    The other two stabbed him again.


    He raised his mighty shield and made the two of them one with the ground blood being spilled all over the place.


    "We will leave you alone, please just let me live!"


    The sentry stood in front of him. silently without moving an inch slowly stretching his hand towards him.


    "Die..."


    He grasped his head and crushed it.


    For a few minutes everything was silent yet that didn''t last long.


    "Captain!"


    "Yes..."


    "I found the traders. Can I go outside and play a bit?"


    "..."


    "Thank you captain."


    The traders were left in shock after the guesome display. After a strong earthquake of course there is an anftershok. Another man came inside. He had a white armor as shining as the captain''s.


    "What happened here?"


    The blood was dripping from the captains armor. It was pretty clear what happened. The man which entered had short red hair and the eyes were red as well. He was one of the top elites in the capital.


    "Who are you warrior?"


    "..."


    "I see, the silent type. From the looks of it I have to take into custody, please refrain from making me use force."


    "..."


    "You are a bit creepy, but nevertheless come."


    The captain did not move. He waited for a minute then went to pick up his shield and spear.


    "I see you wish to fight."


    "...No..."


    "Then come with me and leave your weapons."


    "..."


    "This is geting nowhere."


    Energy chains erupted from the ground crawling up and binding the sentry. He could barely move.


    "Now, I shall execute you personaly."


    With a single slash he '' cut '' the captains head.


    "I think we are done here. That was easyer than I expected."


    Yet he was not dead. The sentry took his helmet and put it back on.


    "You should have stayed down."


    The man jumped and smashed the sentry into the floor. It was different from the other time. For once he was actually damaged... Only if that would be enough to keep him down.


    "It seems you can handle youself. Let''s go outside."


    He looked at the girl then back at the man. He decided that was for the best.


    As soon as he stepped outside the man started to slash him multiple times. Each strike was strong and precise. His opponent couldn''t afford to make any mistakes.


    Yet he would not falter, each hit was blocked with his shield.


    During all of the attacks he found a opening and threw the spear with the hope to pierce him.


    "That was a good strike, too bad you have no weapons now."


    While he was rambling the captain hit the man with the shield into a wall.


    "Ah, alright it seems I can''t brag. Tell me your name warrior."


    The captain stood silent for a moment, then he spoke.


    "... Aeneas..."


    "My name is Sangrey, let us have an epic battle."


    "..."


    They clashed again. Hours passed and they kept exchanging blows yet the only one who felt tired was Sangrey.


    "I must tell you, it was quite enjoyable. Now let us finish this."


    The both entered offensive stances. They lashed out at each other with one single strong blow.


    In the end, Sangrey was the one who emerged victorious. He huffed and puffed as he dropped down.


    "Damn, that was hard. Lady luck is with me today, if only he wouldn''t have missed that last blow... Too bad for him."


    "Captain... Wake up captain!"


    "Girl, that thing won''t respond too soon."


    The captain tried to get up. He used all his energy to rise.


    "You should know when to quit."


    Sangrey binded him again with the energy chains.


    "Now, I have to call Ulric. You were such a pain Aeneas I''ll give you that."


    "Leave him alone!"


    "Out of my face brat!"


    He slapped the girl and took away the captain.


    "Hey kid, come inside. We will take care of ya until someone comes to pick you up."


    "But... the captain...."


    "We can''t do much now."


    She started to cry while entering the guild hall.


    ? ? ?


    A few days later nearly everyone left Silacet. Roisin and Shepherd went back to the capital. Gawter and Lamia went with Cory to check the elven capital and its surroundings.


    The only one who remained with Tarex was Cyrillus.


    "It is rather quiet your majesty."


    "Yeah..."


    "What are you going to do now?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "Well the city and its sorry state are quite a problem. There are people that begin to live here. Don''t you think you should start rebuilding and improving well... everything?"


    "I sent that girl to bring some traders. I do agree with you, this was a great city. It makes me sick to see it as this."


    "Shouldn''t the kid be here already?"


    "Yeah something might have gone wrong. I will take Leonidas and find them, but there is something bothering me."


    "What exactly?"


    "The door behind the throne has opened. It was always closed. It pisses me off for some reason. Also I want to see what is inside."


    "I''ll bring some torches and we can check out."


    "No, I will take care of that problem."


    Tarex created a ball of light for him and Cyrillus which followed them around.


    "This is rather useful."


    "Yeah and it''s one of the most basic spells."


    "Let''s go then."


    They went through the door. As they descended strange noises came from further away.


    "How much time has passed since the creation?"


    "Why would you ask such a thing your majesty?"


    "It feels like it was only a hundred years ago. The world is still beautiful and I begin to wonder where will it reach in the next thousand of years."


    "It will probably be very different."


    "I guess... There is something ahead."


    After they reached the bottom in front of them was an underground city.


    "Now this is interesting. What is this place exactly?"


    "I have no idea and this was literally behind me all this time."


    "There is a red light in the center!"


    "Well, lets check it out."


    For Cyrillus this was a terrifying experience while Tarex was unfazed. The underground was swallowed by darkness. If they wouldn''t have light who knows what creatures could emerge.


    "Oooh!"


    "Wh-What?"


    They reached to the read light. It was like a fountain filled with red energy.


    "This is the technology of the ancients!"


    "Are there people older than your kind?!"


    "Yeah, our machines, weapons and armors are based on theirs. This one is an original."


    "What does it do?"


    "Hmmm, there are some moving stoneplates. Oh, I see."


    He moved around the plates and pressed them.


    From the fountain emerged the shape of a man. Slowly it took the form of a sentry and was placed near them.


    "Wha-....?"


    "So this is how we got the sentries. The energy, these are souls. It is most fascinating!"


    "Your majesty?"


    Multiple zones began to turn red from the energy. The darkness from the underground was now filled with the red light of tormented souls.


    "I shall free them all."


    "I don''t think you should do that Tarex!"


    "You will understand why this is necessary later. For now, it is my duty to release them all."


    A few hours pass and the two of them returned to the surface.


    "That was... I don''t even know what that was."


    "Now we are going in the capital. I need those traders. Leonidas come!"


    From the throne rooms entrance a much bigger sentry came. The armor had many inscriptions on it and was decorated with red jewels.


    "Y-Your majesty?"


    "This is my most trusted general. Leonidas, he has enough power to challange even me. I doubt he would win, but he is quite formidable."


    "I see..."


    "Well it''s time to move. Onward thorugh the forest!"


    ? ? ?


    The capital city Molk is the center of commerce. The goverment is the one which rules over the people, that being only on the surface. In the end every decision taken by the goverment must be accepted by the king.


    The castle is well mantained. With the flags on top of every tower and expensive carpets along every hallway. The castle itself is made of quartz which is daily cleaned by the servants.


    The elite knights reside here, close to the royal family. Along them are of course many other soldiers and guards. The soldiers mostly keep the people safe while the guards have accest to almost every part of the castle.


    The elite knights were many. Only a few of them were allowed to stay near the royal family and give them advice. The road to reach the rank of elite was hard yet rewarding.


    "Knight Sangrey, bring here that girl and the thing you fought."


    "As you command your majesty."


    The kings word was final. Nobody could deny him that was how it worked. By his side was always standing the strongest among the elites, Ulric. He was old and on the surface seemed to look as a good man. His hair was short and grey. On his head was a silver circlet with purple jewels and runes.


    "Tell me Ulric, if Sangrey had problems dealing with that foe should we be cautios?"


    Ulric was a massive man. He always had a great claymore with him.


    "If he could defeat him there is no problem. In the end he is only the fifth elite."


    "Yes, yes you are right."


    The doors opened and before the king was brought the little girl and the chained armor. The armor was standing stil while the girl was held by Sangrey.


    "There is an evil aura coming from that thing."


    "His name is Aeneas!"


    Most of the people were very offended as the girl dared to adress the king in such a manner. She talked to him like he was a nobody. Such a thing couldn''t be allowed.


    "Girl know your place when you speak with a king."


    "He''s not the king! The king is big and strong not an old geezer."


    Ulric was ready to kill the girl, but the king stopped him. He wished to know more about that person she called king.


    "She is but a child. Even if her words are harsh we can''t blame her."


    "Yes your majesty."


    "Tell me kid, who is this king you talk about?"


    In the next moment a strong presure could be felt from the entrance. Every knight in the room was prepared to attack. Ulric prepared himself as well. The sheer amount of power made a few people faint.


    The doors opened and from them a massive man entered. The silver armor with inscriptions and jewels all over it. The red crest on his helmet with the round shield and spear. It was truly imposing and made even Ulric shiver.


    "Who are you and who gave you permision to enter?"


    Ulric shouted yet the man remained composed. He didn''t flinch even a bit and moved onward. Every step he made cracked the floor a little. The knights were afraid to aproach him but they didn''t flee either. If they were showing any sign of fear who knows what the man would have done.


    "Permision...? Don''t make me laugh insect. I am Leonidas, general of the Nephilim armies! There is ONE man which I follow. You call yourself a knight, you call yourself a king... YOU ARE JUST PESTS! To even try to compare yourself with the ones I served."


    Nobody knew how to react to such words. He was beyond rude to everyone in the room. To call a king and his knights pests was an affront which couldn''t be forgiven.


    "I never heard of one such as you. Ulric if you may, show this man the way to the dungeons."


    "Yes your highness."


    His fur cape was sliding on the floor. His enhanced steel armor kept making noises as he moved onward. Everything was on purpose to make his opponent understand he shouldn''t be taken lightly.


    Ulric grabed his claymore and stood before Leonidas. He was a tall person, but the one who stood before him was even bigger. Even so there was no hesitation in his eyes.


    "This way sir Leonidas."


    The look Leonidas gave him made Ulric understand... Prepare yourself. Not a second passed and he was sent flying through the ceilling.


    "Pathetic welps."


    The general looked at the ''prisoners''.


    "Girl! Come!"


    "Yes..."


    "Aeneas, release yourself you are making a fool of yourself!"


    "...Yes..."


    The captain broke the chains and went to the generals side.


    "We are leaving now, the king awaits your reports!"


    After a few minutes Ulric returned. Nobody understood what happened but they felt more than insulted. Such a thing could be considered an invitation to war. The question was who they were? Who were they going to fight against?


    "Find them, and kill them."


    "Even the girl?"


    "Yes even that brat."


    "Understood your majesty."


    "To come into my castle. To make a fool of me and my knights. What is this absurdity... and you Ulric! How could you be defeated so easily? You should be the strongest!"


    "That man... That thing is more than I can handle alone. If you allow me to take the five elites we might bring him down."


    "While I want that bastard dead I can not send the five of you. I would be left naked in the face of danger."


    "Then we can''t do much at the moment."


    "This is infuriating."


    ? ? ?


    The generals along with the captain and the kid got away from the castle. It was surprising they weren''t followed by anyone. The three of them returned to the trading guild where Tarex awaited them.


    It was silent inside. When the doors opened it seemed even more so. Tarex was wating at a table talking with the guild masters.


    "It seems he recovered my surbordinate and... I''m not sure what that girl really is to me."


    "Hey!"


    "What?"


    "Don''t adress his majesty with such insolence you brat!"


    "Leonidas leave her. Can''t make a child listen to you like that."


    The girl ran to the king and sticked her tongue out at Leonidas."


    "Why you-..."


    "Anyway, we are going back home. As for what we discussed I shall give you protection. Just make sure you can bring all the materials. We might even establish a trading route once we finish rebuilding."


    "Yes your highness."


    "Also do you know any good blacksmiths and architects?"


    "There are quite a few but not in this zone. If I were to recommend the best are living near the castle. You can ask around people there."


    "Thanks for your help."


    "No no no, we thank you for such generous offers."


    "Alright guys time to go. I want to take a nap though. Lets find an inn."


    "As you wish your highness. I saw one on the way from the castle. If you may, follow me."


    "Well then, lead the way."


    ? ? ?


    The elven capital was a beautiful place surrounded by forests. In a way they always tried to rise to the Nephilims level and copy them in many aspects. Through time it became their own style as everyone forgot about the Nephilims.


    The elves are ruled by a council of elders. They are as old as the King of Silacet yet not as strong.


    Here, Cory came with Gawter and Lamia. The three of them were to invastigate the place where Lysander should be hiding.


    "So this is where you came from Lamia."


    "Not really, my home is in another part of the city. Only the high elves reside here."


    "Hey girls, are you hungry?"


    "Why do you ask lord Gawter?"


    "They were selling some sweets there. I really want some...."


    "I do want something. Cory do you wish anything?"


    "Nah I''m good."


    Gawter bought two pies. They kept walking around the beautiful streets. It was peaceful and lively.


    "Ah this is so nostalgic."


    "Why is that Cory?"


    "It''s nearly the same as it was in Silacet before. They don''t sing as much but hey it''s still more than what we have there now."


    "You seem sad."


    "I am a little bit."


    Further ahead they saw him. The same armor as Tarex. Yet it was much whiter though and seemed much friendlier.


    "What should we do?"


    "We know that he is here at least. Let''s return to his majesty and tell him the rumors were true... Cory what are you doing?"


    The girl unsheated her scimitars and took off.


    "Hello BIG BROTHER!"


    Lysander looked up and was surprised by his sister. He managed to dodge her attack just in time.


    "Oh, it''s you sister. Now why would you attack me?"


    "To put an end to your so called experiments."


    "Oh... Ohohohohoho, it seems you know about it then. Too bad father isn''t alive anymore."


    He unsheated his rapier and preapred himself for the fight.


    "You know, we don''t have to fight sister."


    "You think I will let you after all you did? All you did to our brother, to our MOTHER?"


    He bit his tongue as she uttered those words.


    "Oh spare me, Tarex and mother were morons. She was too kind and he trusted that god will save him someday. Two fools, and it seems you are the third. She meant nothing to me... NOTHING.... nothing..."


    The girl jumped and started to spin. In the moment she reached him Lysander dashed behind her.


    "Sister you are no match for one such as me."


    She turned and tried to stike him again.


    "Please, just leave."


    She tried to hit him again. This time he parried her attack and struck her back.


    "Maybe we shall play again, but another time. Now please... leave."


    He got close to his sister and whispered in her ear.


    "We are watched, get Tarex here and I will tell you everything."


    While Cory was trying to recover from the blow Gawter and Lamia came to help her. Lysander left before they could keep following him.


    "Lets go and tell him what happened."


    "I...I don''t get it."


    "Girls, we might have some problems."


    The elven knights were coming. They were tall but slim, all of them wielding curved swords and giant bows.


    "We shall take you in our custody for attacking a representative of the high council."


    "What do we do now Cory? We can''t move as we might start a war between the elves and humans."


    She stretched her wings and started to fly away.


    "I am the one who did it you pointy ears. If you want me you need to do better than that."


    Everyone started to follow the girl and left Gawter and Cory alone.


    "Well she gave us an opening. We are going to the capital."


    "What about Tarex?"


    "It dosen''t matter we have to make sure we don''t start a war."


    "I understand."


    They left the elven capital and moved as fast as they could towards Molk.

 Darker Self

    Every day is a gift, all you can do is love whatever you have. Some don''t have anything... yet you can give them a reason to live. Can''t you?


    "Who are you?"


    "Nobody."


    "What is your purpose?"


    "Killing."


    "Who do you kill?"


    "..."


    "Again. Who do you kill?"


    "E-...Everyone! EVERYONE! I''ll kill... Everyone... For you!"


    "This won''t work. Get the others, we still have much to do."


    ? ? ?


    Dark clouds gathered upon the city of Molk and, shortly after, the rain started. It was as if the heavens started to weep.


    "Such a gloomy day."


    "Yes, your highness."


    "Get Aeneas and the girl. You three should head back to the city. If you remain here, trouble might brew up."


    "I can''t leave you alone, my lord!"


    "Just go. I have been alone for many years, what could happen in but a few days?"


    "I... I understand, my lord."


    "Alright... Then go now."


    "As you command."


    Tarex seemed to be in deep thought. What was on his mind only he knew. Although he felt something is wrong , He rose up from the table and went to pay for his meal.


    "Here is the money for me and my associates."


    "Thank you. Please do come again."


    He left and went to search for blacksmiths, architects, armorers or craftsmen that could help him rebuild. He truly wished to restore Silacet to its former glory. Yet that was not an easy task, for the buildings were extremely old. Amateurs couldn''t even fathom how restoring such a city should be possible.


    "Ugh, I can''t find anyone. Hey you!"


    "Yes?"


    "I searched quite some time for the someone that might help restoring some ruins. Do you know in which direction can I find such people?"


    "Further this way are the carpenters. The blacksmiths have a rather hard time these days. You can find them at the western gate."


    "Thank you."


    He kept walking ahead. There were a lot of people gathered near a colosseum. Tarex decided to take a look. He might find something interesting there. For a moment he stopped and wondered what could cause such an uproar. It simply made him more curious.Inside were less people, and as he entered, the gates suddenly closed behind him.


    "I can''t believe I actually did this. Sometimes I ask myself how dumb can I be? Might as well find out what this is."


    There were a few people in the main box of the building. The king was there, as well as the elites, such as Ulric. Yet something didn''t feel right. They all seemed stiff for some reason.


    "Hey, what is happening here?"


    "I heard there is a special guest coming today."


    "Not that, what are we doing here?"


    "Oh, wait you aren''t here for the rank up trials?"


    "No, no no no. I walked in to see what''s happening. Well, whatever..."


    "You look like elite material. If you want to leave you need to let someone beat you. That might cause you problems, though, they might take it as an affront to the king."


    "Can''t I just resign or something?"


    "If you want to live, no. Especially today."


    "Arghhhh..... Alright, sure, SURE. That''s just awesome..."


    The king rose up and started to speak. Everyone gathered in the center to listen.


    "Attention. Remember to give all you have and prove you deserve the rank of elite. The best were selected to enter, and being here is an achievement you must be proud of. Today we also have a special guest. Please welcome her majesty, the Lion Empress Aurelie."


    The woman was tall and beautiful. Her hair was long and shone like gold. Her eyes were as blue as the sea and the attitude she had was one of a true ruler.


    Everyone but Tarex started cheering. Some people saw that and didn''t like it, yet it couldn''t be helped. The empress couldn''t care less about the cheering. What she wished to see was a truly powerful person. One that could surpass even her.


    "Alright, then. we shall start the matches."


    A few hours passed, and Tarex was sleeping in a corner. Everyone ended their matches and only one person was left without a fighting partner. The battles left the walls damaged and the ground scorched, but the empress wasn''t impressed. Due to Tarex entering by mistake in the colosseum, the one that should have been in his place couldn''t participate.


    "The one from the corner, come here!"


    He woke up and came in the middle. His eyes were still itching from the nap. He tried to scratch but then the helmet stopped him.


    " Ah, stupid metal shit. Oh yeah, I give up! I entered here by-..."


    "Your opponent is right there. The fight shall start in a few minutes."


    "Oh come on. At least listen to me..."


    He was totally ignored.


    As the time passed the king made sure to try and improve his relationship with the empress. She ruled one of the strongest countries, and having her as an ally would give him an edge over other nations, even if he was but a mere vassal.


    "Your highness, do you wish for anything at all? Just tell me and I shall make my subodinates deliver at once."


    "There is no need. Though I would love to see a better fighter. Maybe this one will amuse me a bit. I can feel something strange about him, though I can''t say for sure what. To be honest, he is pretty disturbing."


    "I am sure he is a capable warrior!"


    "That remains to be seen. Bring me some wine, whelps!"


    The king was in a bit of a struggle, as he didn''t know what to expect from the next fight. When the time came, the other fighter went back in the middle of the arena.


    "Hey mate, are you ready?"


    "..."


    "Oy, you hear me?"


    "Wh-What, oh yeah the fight. HEY, after this, can I go?"


    The figures from the box seemed annoyed by that question. He didn''t even start the fight and wished to leave.


    "You may resign after you win. Also if you lose you will be disqualified. I would say it''s quite straight forward."


    "Alright. Then shall we begin?"


    "The battle may commence at once."


    The man in front of him created a mana bow and shot without hesitation. He missed, but that didn''t faze him, and he kept shooting Tarex.


    "Hmmm, alright, I want to get back home... Let me put an end to this charade. -Silent Decree-"


    As he uttered the words his opponent''s mana bow dissapeared.


    "What is this?"


    He kept trying to recreate it, but he was unable to. The others realized as well. That nobody could use spells any longer. That wasn''t where it all stopped, though. Everyone was affected in a different way. Ulric could barely lift his claymore. Those who were previously strong beyond measure were now regular people . Only the empress wasn''t affected by this.


    "What have you done?"


    "You are not special anymore. In my presence, everyone is a normal person. Nobody is strong when they are born. Through training and hard work you can gain certain abilities. Sometimes you are born with power. But In the end that, means nothing in front of me. Now KNEEL! Only higher beings are allowed to stand."


    Everyone kneeled in front of him. Every elite. Every warrior. The king as well. Only the empress stood still.


    "That is a rather curious ability. Who are you?"


    "You are quite special as well, ''empress''. My name is Tarex, king of the Nephilims. This country was once mine. Now my sweet city is in ruins. I came here just to rebuild it, and I have been forced to fight. Tell me, what would you have done?"


    "I agree with your actions. Also I have some knowledge about your kind, I thought none of you were still alive. I have a proposal. Defeat me, and I shall help you rebuild your city. The country will be returned as well to its rightful owner. Do you accept?"


    "You are a binder as well, are you not?"


    "Indeed I am."


    He chuckled. The proposal was great, yet a battle between two binders would affect the lands too much.


    "I am afraid I have to refuse."


    The empress was disappointed at hearing this.


    "And here I thought you might amuse me a bit. Why won''t you fight?"


    "This is my domain. A fight between us would further degrade everything . I would like to avoid that."


    "So you do have a brain. Then let us change the terms a bit. Show me that you truly are the so called Silent King and I will offer you everything I said before."


    How would you have me do that, young ''empress'' ?"


    "The way you say it, so annoying. I know about those experiments. There was someone who taught me about the Nephilims. Never thought it might come in handy."


    "Then would you like to see my wings?"


    "I would indeed love to see that."


    "Unfortunately, they have been cut down a long time ago. I can show you something else, if that would please you,though."


    "Just do something, this is getting boring!"


    "Come to me old friends. -Nether Summon-"


    The ground started to shake and a strong pressure caught even the empress off guard. Outside, giant serpent ghosts emerged from the earth. They were beings from another world. They stared at the arena as if they were watching over it like guardians.


    "These are ancient basilisk ghosts. "


    "The basilisk gods! Although, I can only see three of them here. To be able to summon them... it''s astonishing!"


    "Oh, spare me. These are mere giant reptiles. Far from gods. Also, why would I give away all of my strengths?"


    "It is indeed hard to trick you. Alright, I shall offer you the help you require. Release these whelps I will make sure they will obey, this is now your country. If there are any problems, I suppose you can take care of them."


    "Ah, such a wonderful day. Back in my rightful place."


    "Tell me your name, king."


    "It''s Tarex. Through the years, I have been called by other names, but this should suffice. May I know yours, young one?"


    "I am know as the Lion Empress, Aurelie."


    "It was a pleasure meeting you."


    "Tell me Tarex. Should my country ever need you, would you help me?"


    "Hah, I don''t think there is anyone who could put up a fight against you."


    "Indeed, there are quite a few select people that can do that. You included."


    "I see where this is going. At the moment, I won''t do anything. However, if you hide any other Nephilims from me, we might have a problem."


    "Are you searching for your kin?"


    "You could say so."


    "I shall keep that in mind. May we never have to fight, Silent King."


    "Farewell, Lion Empress."


    "Before I take my leave, there is one more thing I have to ask."


    "Anything for such a beautiful empress."


    "Spare me the flattery. Are you truly a Nephilim?"


    "Did we not end that discussion?"


    "You know very well what I mean this time."


    "...Heh...Stay safe, Auriele. The question should be ''What is a Nephilim?'' "


    And so the two of them parted ways. The old king dethroned. The elites kept their places and continued to watch over the city. The head of Molk was now Leonidas, as Tarex preferred to remain in Silacet.


    ? ? ?


    Seven sentry platoons were sent to reinforce Molk. Even though the citizens were afraid of them, they kept order. Now the realm of humans was ruled by the Nehpilim king, and the power shifted.


    After the events in Molk, the scouting party returned from the elven realms. Gawter, Lamia and Cory were shocked after their arrival. They searched for Tarex throughout the city, yet they couldn''t find him. Later, when they found out about Leonidas still being here, they decided to pay him a visit.


    The three of them arrived to the castle and found some of the elites in the courtyard. It was strange, as they were always with the king. Even if that king changed, their place should have been in the throne room.


    "Sir Ulric. What happened? Should you not be with the king?"


    "The new king said we should wait outside. Me and Sangrey remained, while the other seven left the city. They said that man is no king of theirs."


    "What man?"


    "I''m sorry, lady Lamia. I did not see you there. The new king of Molk is Leonidas. A monster encased in steel. I have no idea why he would keep us, but that''s not for me to decide."


    "Indeed. Sir Gawter, I don''t recall seeing Leonidas in Silacet."


    "Me neither. Cory, do you know anything about him?"


    She seemed rather flustered.


    "That is our grand general. He took a liking to my brother long ago. After that, he swore to serve him even in death.


    "Why wasn''t he in Silacet when we came?"


    "Because he should be dead..."


    Nobody knew what to make of such a statement. How could he bring the dead back to life was beyond them. But time keeps going forward, and so, they were all called to see the new king.


    "I called for all of the elites. Where are the rest of them?"


    "I am sorry. They decided to betray the country and left."


    "I see. And you. Shouldn''t the three of you be in the elven lands?"


    "We were. Lysander was there as well, and so we returned to talk with his majesty."


    "Then you have no business here. You are free to go back now."


    "May I be allowed to know something general?"


    "Go ahead and ask, Gawter."


    "What is with all the sentries in the city? There were much less of them in Silacet."


    "They were brought in by his highness. Now, I have no more time to lose with you. Go and inform Tarex."


    The three of them left, and only Ulric and Sangrey remained.


    "The other elites betrayed us, you say. You two remained, so I acknowledge your loyalty for the time being. BUT, you are weak. The weak have no place in my ranks. I shall personally train you, and after that, you will eliminate every traitor!"


    "Yes general!"


    "Sangrey. Unfortunately, I can not train you. You have a different set of skills. Ulric uses brute force, and that is easier for me to shape. Go and find someone to train with. Someone worthy.


    "Understood."


    ? ? ?


    South of the kingdom were the Scorpion raiders. In the desert, they were second to none, and no attack towards their headquarters was ever successful. These people were very sly, and their country was ruled by Jakal, a strong and mischievous leader.These lands are now full of strange beings capable of living months without water. Others, however, don''t need it at all, as they satisfy their thirst with the blood of their prey.


    In the East was the union of Tougoku. Their lands were rich and beautiful. Such a country is always a target for raiders or warmongers. In the end all of them fell, as their warriors were strong and determined. None may enter their lands, and as those who do never leave. As beautiful and safe as it was, Tougoku fell into chaos. Different clans wish to rule the entire nation, and civil wars are about to start.


    In the North, two lands were always clashing. The elves and the vikings were never on good terms. The vikings were always short on food supplies, and the elves never accepted trading with them. In the end, the two of them became enemies due to failed negotiations. Their lands are extremely unsafe, as monsters roam freely. In other nations, monsters exist as well, but not with the same amount or strength. The ones which are nearly always present are the plague maidens. They always roam the lands in packs and resurrect dead women to transform into specters. Due to such beings existing, every corpse is burned.


    In the West were the lands of the Lioness. Her warriors were the strongest. They always had everything they needed. Raiders would not dare trespass. For that reason, she believed the world belongs to her. That was until, one day, she met a true king. The Lioness was indeed strong, yet even she understood that there were people she could simply not mess with. She has few enemies outside the country, but the problem is inside. Plots and schemes are always made against her, yet she somehow always manages to survive. Such things are not known to outsiders, as every witness is executed before they could spread any rumors.


    The humans she had under her feet for so long were now ruled by the Silent King. In her eyes, that is a problem which can not be avoided. When her spies returned, there were no good news. The warriors he had were not to be taken lightly. Using weapons never seen before and soldiers stronger than any, the Nephilims were a threat to everyone. The small land he ruled was full of forests, ruined cities and strongholds, burned villages and so on. You could always fall in an ambush, with many bandits hiding in the harbringers'' land.


    Who would prove to be stronger, the Lion or the Nephilim? That remains to be seen, yet there are other contenders for the lands. The shogun of Tougoku, Arakan. A master of the blade, he can hold his ground against both the Lioness and the Nephilim.


    For the time being, Tarex and Aurelie have a peace treaty. For how long, it is not certain, but the king needs resources and craftsmen from the empress. Restoring Silacet to its former glory is not an easy task.


    Now more than ever, the ruins were filled with people. The plaza was crowded with all sorts of people. The archives were studied by all kinds of adventurers, historians, mages and so on. They couldn''t understand most of the books. There were some which made sense to them and eveything they found was astonishing. On the other side, the church was as empty as ever.


    Only one person was standing there. He lit other candles and left. On the way back to the castle, Tarex saw a peculiar person. He was wearing seemingly light armor. His helmet had a neck guard and a golden ornament in front. Most of the vital points were covered by strong steel plates. On his waist, he had a slightly curved sword.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "Who are you?"


    "Who am I, indeed. I am called Kojirou.Who might you be?"


    "Heh, sometimes I wonder about that myself."


    "..."


    "..."


    "This is awkward."


    "Yes, it is. Tell me, why do you visit Silacet?"


    "I am a traveler. The east became a bit too boring for me, so I set out to find a new place to waste my existence in. Tell me, are you the one known as the Silent King?"


    "Yes, I am. How do you know that?"


    "Rumors travel fast."


    "What rumors?"


    "About a king who kept his ground in face of the Lioness. You don''t look as mighty as most people say."


    "You know, sometimes appreances can be deceiving."


    "Then, your highness. Let me serve you for a while."


    "I suppose you have a reason for that as well?"


    "Oh, I wonder."


    The two of them returned to the castle. There were many people waiting at the entrance. Nobles, peasants, bandits, there was one from each group present in Silacet. They all bowed upon seeing Tarex.


    "Cyrillus, tell me, why are there so many people outside?"


    "You are king now. Well, now you have people to rule over. They came here because there is something wrong. I think they expect an audience with you."


    "Arghhh..... Alright, there goes my free time. Oh, this is Kojirou. Find him a room while I see what those guys outside want."


    "May I ask who he is?"


    "No, just do what I say."


    Kojirou and Cyrillus left. With their departure, Tarex started to let people inside and hear them out.


    "Alright, someone get in and say what is wrong."


    A woman with a baby came in. She had scars on her face and dirty clothes.


    "Tell me, what can I do for you?"


    "Your highness. Everyone heard your power knows no bounds. You stood up against the empress. Please, if you find it in your reach. My baby is sick, he is not eating and I don''t know what to do!"


    "Come closer."


    The woman was crying as she approached the king. He put his hand on the child and remained like that for a few minutes.


    "Everything should be alright now."


    "Thank you you highness. I don''t know how I could ever repay you!"


    "Just keep on living. You should visit the archives. There are people who can teach you how to prepare medicine in the future. I will also send sentries to distribute food in the city."


    "Thank you so much, your highness. What should I do in the archives, I don''t know how to read..."


    "They will teach you. If they don''t, I shall make sure they will be exiled from my lands."


    "Thank you so much!"


    "Now leave, there are others waiting."


    The woman left with tears in her eyes. Immediately, a nobleman came inside. He looked like a count or a duke. Dressed in fancy clothes, giving the air of snobbery.


    "Your majesty, my name is-..."


    "No need to tell me your name. Say what is wrong and how can I help you."


    "The amount of peasants is disgusting. Why should a city such as this be filled with so much trash? I understand you take care of everyone under your rule, but I can''t find myself standing next to so much scum."


    "Oh, let me guess. You lived the good life, no struggles, no problems. You can''t stand seeing people that have less. You won''t help a man or woman in need if she is dirty or stinks. Your kind of people disgust me more than the filthiest whore. You shall leave the castle and never show your face in my presence again. NOW LEAVE!"


    The man was angry at such remarks. He left pissed at the king, as he knew there was nothing he could do. A few minutes later, a bandit came inside.


    "Ugh... Your majesty, I guess. I''m sorry, never talked with a noble or anything of the sort."


    "Do not worry. Just tell me what is your problem."


    "Well you see, as a bandit, we don''t really have anything to do around. With your sentries keeping the order and all of that. Can we also have a similar place?"


    "Hmmm, I do want to keep the sentries for other purposes. Alright, you and your friends can keep the people in line. I shall give you ten gold coins a month. If I hear you misused the power I gave you... Trust me you would prefer death rather than what I will do."


    "Thanks. I do have one more question. Why don''t you resent us? I mean we are bandits. We did kill innocent people."


    "As long as you accept what you did. You have to live with the burden of those lives you ended on your shoulders. It is not easy. I am not a ''pure maiden'' either, I have my hands sullied with more innocent lives than you might have taken."


    "I see... Thank you, king Tarex. I assure you, we shall defend the people."


    Many other people came. The king took care of all their problems. As the night came, Cory, Lamia and Gawter arrived as well. They were surprised at the sight of so many people living in the ruins and the many building that were repaired.


    "I guess it''s time we talk to him."


    ? ? ?


    The Lioness. She conquered many territories, and there was never a foe strong enough to defeat her. With her fire magic, she burned all who stood in the her path. As the years passed by, she managed to create a large empire. Her forces were always in good shape. The citizens were thankful for everything they had.


    She is loved and hated by many. Some of them hiding right behind her nose without any suspicion.


    "Tell me. What have the scouts discovered upon their arrival in Silacet?"


    "There would be many problems if we ever wanted to attack that city. It''s a natural fortress. The mountains that encircle the city being the first obstacle. We can''t bring in catapults nor any other assault engines. Then there are the woods. The air is very humid and the terrain is muddy. His sentries always patrol and have a keen sense for whoever trespasses. Our scouts did manage to get past them but I doubt an entire army could."


    "Are you sure there is no way to get in? We can cut the trees if we have to. Or set up camps. If we really need. There is also our superior numbers, we can bet on that ."


    "There are other problems as well. You see, my empress, the woods are strange. Our scouts tried to mark a way, and when they returned, the marked path had disappeared. We believe the forest itself is a defense mechanism. When he returned, he told me it was so silent. He couldn''t even hear his own thoughts."


    "We need to think about it. If we ever need to fight him, that city must fall."


    "I believe we must keep him an ally at all costs rather than making a foe out of the Nephilim."


    "Yes, that should be the best course of action. I don''t like the idea of such a strong being, but there is nothing I can do now, is there?"


    "I''m afraid not."


    "Alright, general. I think this is good night."


    "Good night, my lady. Oh, there are also some rumors about a plot against you. We are trying to gather information, but there are no leads at the moment."


    "We shall talk more in the morning."


    "As you wish, your highness."


    The two of them left the council room and went to sleep. The night was beautiful, the sky was clear and only the howl of the wolves could be heard. One by one, the lights went out, and only the moon and the stars were shining upon the land.


    ? ? ?


    As months, passed life began to flourish in Silacet. Things seemed to finally calm down, yet trouble was brewing. In the west, some people decided to take advantage of the current situation and prepare a surprise for the Lioness.


    Another night passed, and the Aurelie was troubled about the decisions she made. Even if she put up a show for the Nephilim, his power was far beyond hers. That was a detail which she kept only for herself and her much trusted general.


    "Oh, I wonder. No what is he doing? I sent him all that he needed to rebuild. Was that a good idea? There is no way to tell now, but would he start a war without reason? There are strong nations that might oppose us, but he is so unsettling. There are plots against me too. I wonder if he would lend me a hand? I doubt it... or might there be a chance? Ah... I don''t know what to do anymore."


    Morning came, and everyone started getting ready for a new day. The empress didn''t sleep as well as she had hoped. She dressed up in her armor and got out of the room. When she reached the throne room, she noticed something strange. Nobody was inside. Usually the general would wait for her there. Not even a knight or a maid was there.


    "This is really weird."


    She went and took her place on the throne. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard outside the entrance. There were so many. She didn''t know what to expect, but she could simply impale them all if needed.


    The gates opened, and soldiers stormed into the throne room, spears and swords in hand.


    "For betraying the country, Empress Auriele the Lioness of the Western lands, you are to be arrested and sent to the dungeons."


    "What is this nonsense?"


    "The people have spoken. Everyone knows about you selling this country to the Nephilim."


    "When have I done such a thing?"


    "The details are still uncertain. Thus, you will not be sent to your execution straight away."


    "Bring the general here!"


    "He is no longer with us."


    "What...?"


    She was angry, and every soldier could see it. He who dared to look her in the eyes felt as though a thousand daggers pierced their heart. The power she wielded put such a pressure over everyone, yet it didn''t last. The treasurer entered the room.


    "I see there is no peaceful way, my lady. I had hoped we could just take you alive, but bringing these people proved useful. They won''t allow you to use any of your powers."


    A few people in robes created a barrier in the room and stopped her from using any of her abilities. Outside, many others like them used staves to create a much larger barrier to prevent absolutely anything she could use.


    It was as he said. There was nothing she could do aside from wielding her sword. She had only one option left. Fight her way out.


    "It seems you underestimate me. I shall return one day. I will find out who planned it. Remember this, if the emperor grants mercy, the empress grants death."


    She unsheathed her sword, and with a strong dash forward, started cutting everyone in her path. Every soldier tried to stop her, but nobody was able to. The Lioness was on a rampage on her way out. She might have looked weak, but her power was undeniable.


    After getting through more than a hundred soldiers, she managed to reach the exit. Outside, everyone was waiting for her execution, nobles and peasants, kids and elders. They were all waiting. She could barely control her fury and disgust. In the end, all she could feel was actually sadness. Everyone betraying her. After she gave them a future, now they all wanted her death. How something like this could happen was beyond her understanding.


    "I shall take everything back. Maybe the Nephilim could help me. Is that really the only way? Argh, there is no time to think. I have to leave as fast as I can. I guess he is the only option."


    She hid in a carriage filled with hay. As the night came, she got up and made a run for it. There wasn''t anything for her here now. If she wished to regain her country, there was one solution. Get an ally.


    ? ? ?


    A month passed since the sudden disappearance of the Lioness. Tarex didn''t know what to make of it, nor did he really care. In Silacet was peace and quiet. The city began to develop beautifully. It was slow, but it was a start to the restoration of what he once called home.


    "Tell me Cyrillus, what should we do?"


    "If you''re talking about about your brother Lysander, I think we should be cautious. Being rash has never ended up well for anybody."


    "Yeah, I guess you are right. Who remained in the city?"


    "Lady Lamia, Roisin and Shepherd are here. In Molk, sir Gawter, general Leonidas and captain Aeneas are waiting your orders. The girl is with them as well."


    "Ah, that little brat. Hmm, now that I think about it, I never asked her name. It doesn''t matter... or does it?"


    "I don''t know, your highness."


    "Oh, come on mate, why are you so stiff? It''s not like we are strangers. Let me get a bottle and let''s drink something."


    "Yeah, it might help a bit."


    The two of them went on the castles balcony. It was a beautiful day. The children were playing outside, birds and bards sang a beautiful melody. The former bandits were now keeping the order. Everything seemed perfect.


    Tarex opened the bottle and started drinking. Then he gave it to Cyrillus.


    "Agh, this is a strong one. How much?"


    "I think seventy."


    "Ah, good. I tell you, something really bad must have happened in the west. The Lioness was loved by everyone. It might trouble us too. Look, everyone is happy, but can you assure this will last forever?"


    "You worry too much. Yes, it might affect us, but there are worse things out there. Assassination plots? These happen every time to great people. She will pull through it."


    Cyrillus drank from the bottle and gave it back to Tarex.


    "So... Are you going to the elven capital now?"


    "I do not know what to do, if I have to be honest. There is something fishy happening everywhere, and I really hate it."


    As he drank from the bottle, he saw Lamia in the plaza. He saw her as beautiful, as the first time when they met. The deep red sparkly eyes. The white and smooth skin, and her beautiful hair. He fell in love in the moment he saw her.


    "Say Tarex, you really fell for that girl, didn''t you? Can''t blame you, she is a beauty."


    "Yeah, I guess. Simply seeing her again makes me fall in love once again. Or it might be from this shit. Argh it''s not seventy, higher...She looks so much like her... Just as... Who?"


    Cyrillus saw that Tarex felt unwell and it wasn''t from the alcohol. There was something more yet he didn''t feel as he should ask.


    "Well, cheers! Though I have a very bad feeling. This might be our last drink, so let''s enjoy it."


    "If you have such a bad feeling, I am going to bring a few more."


    "Oh it''s on you, immortal bastard! BRING THE ALCOHOL!"


    "YEAH! Lets drink like mad men, you cowardly dog!"


    He brought more bottles and drank with this person he started to call a friend. They ended up sleeping on the floor with big smiles on their faces. In the morning, they woke up and went back to their own problems.


    ? ? ?


    A few weeks later, a storm began to approach. It didn''t seem like a natural one, and that raised question marks for many people. Who would summon such a storm?


    The sky started to darken. Black clouds covered the sun and rain started to fall upon the towns. There was something off about the weather, yet nobody noticed until it was too late.


    Some sentries became as dark as the abyss. Some remained normal. A war started inside Silacet, sentries fighting each other. People being killed everywhere. It was chaos.


    "CYRILLUS! KOJIROU!"


    A sentry fell down. It was sliced with one strike, like it was made of paper. Then Kojirou ran to the king.


    "Yes?"


    "Find that man called Cyrillus and search for Lamia. We have to leave the city!"


    "How does this girl look?"


    "He will tell you all the details. Now go, we don''t have much time."


    "Understood."


    Tarex started running down the castle''s stairs. He went as fast as he could outside and then saw him. His brother Kane, wearing the same armor as him, with only one difference. There was a strange corruption on the armor. It was rooted in his flesh and seemed to have sent him into a frenzy. Black ooze was dripping the armor cracks. The Nephilim was in great pain.


    "KANE! You were supposed to protect us!"


    "B-Brother! K-Kill me, BROTHER!"


    "I can''t do it... I just can''t..."


    Kane lunged at Tarex and smashed pushed him to the ground.


    Tarex got back up and tried to dodge his next attacks. He couldn''t concentrate, and many of them landed. He was crushed under the mental pressure of his beloved brother betraying him.


    "How could you, brother..."


    "Please kill me... They... FORCED ME! AAARGHHHHH!"


    At that point he lost even the little control he still had.


    Tarex believed for a moment that it could all just end there. It could be better that way. Why wouldn''t it be better? To finally leave this wretched world. Then a ray of hope appeared before him.


    A dark carriage came and smashed his brother into a wall. He let loose of his grip and Tarex managed to escape from his clutches.


    "Tarex! Get in fast!"


    "No need to tell me twice."


    He jumped in and they made a run for it. Inside were Lamia, Cyrillus, Kojirou and Roisin. Despite a clean escape something felt really odd.


    "Where is Shepherd?"


    Nobody said a thing.


    "..."


    Roisin had tears in her eyes but she forced herself to stop crying.


    "He... He tried to fight a sentry to defend me. He ended up impaled and told me to run."


    "Are you sure there is no chance he survived?"


    "Yes... T-They..."


    Kojirou stopped her.


    "There is no need to tell us. I think he understood. So what are we doing now?"


    "First we must get Leonidas and Gawter from Molk. I don''t know after that. I think we are going to move as far as we can."


    "I see. Why don''t we make a visit to your brother after we get those two?"


    "Yeah. Wait... Where is Cory?"


    Cyrillus stood a bit to think then remembered something.


    "I believe lady Cory went somewhere in the South. I heard she took some of the bandits with her."


    "Ah, this is going so bad. Alright, so I see you found one of the Carrion riders."


    "What is that?"


    "The one driving the carriage. They should have been locked up under the city though."


    "Say, Tarex, do you think someone planned all of this? Someone from inside maybe?"


    "They were hidden right under our noses, huh. I don''t want to think about it right now. Lets just rest and get to Molk."


    A few days passed, and they arrived near the city. Everything was in flames and screams could still be heard from inside. From the fire, two figures emerged. Leonidas and Sangrey were on the city wall. It seemed that Leonidas was badly hurt.


    The two of them got down to the carriage.


    "Your highness, the general is very exhausted, and we don''t know what to do here anymore!"


    "What is the situation?"


    "I don''t know what is happening. Demons of all sorts came from nowhere. The sentries turned against us as well. General Leonidas fought without any rest. In the end he was nearly defeated by a barlorg."


    "How did you escape?"


    "Sir Ulric came right in time. He told me to run with the general."


    "What about sir Gawter?"


    "He was eaten by imps. We didn''t manage to reach and save him in time. I-I... I can''t even describe how he screamed, if only you heard. "


    "This is... I can''t even say how bad things are going at this point... Fucking imps, you say..."


    "What should we do, your highness."


    "We are going to the Elven Capital. After we reach it, we must think about what''s next."


    "Understood!"


    There was someone screaming in the woods. It seemed like they were trying to fight.


    "Kojirou, go there and see what is making all the noise. I am going to secure the area."


    "Sure, sure."


    He went there and found the Lioness fighting three masked men. They seemed to be assassins. Two of them were using daggers drenched in poison while the other one looked like a spell caster.


    "Hey hey hey, don''t you know it''s bad to hit a girl?"


    They didn''t respond.


    "Let me present you, my dear friend... Ketsueki Ryouken."


    He moved his hand slowly across his waist and unsheathed the sword with lighting speed.


    The three assassins started surrounding him.


    One of them tried to close the gap between them. In that instant, with a swift and elegant strike, he cut his opponent in half. The way he moved his sword, it seemed slow at first, but you would be cut before you could realize it.


    "Oh now it''s getting interesting. Ahhhh the taste of blood, let''s have some little fun."


    The sword was glowing red. He began to strike the next opponent. He made the attacks slow enough for them to evade.


    "That''s it, you got it."


    He started swinging faster and faster,and In the end, cutting of his leg.


    "Oh, and here I thought you might entertain me a bit. Such a shame."


    He cut his right arm after that. Then the other leg, and, in the end, stabbed his head.


    "As for you..."


    The spell caster looked like a woman. She started running, yet it was meaningless. He was right behind the girl and then cut her leg.


    "Now, now, I can''t have you running."


    "You won''t get anything from me."


    "Who said I needed anything? You will just die here, without anyone knowing about it. A meaningless death. Ha.. Ha ha... haHAhAHAHAHAH!"


    He then severed her head.


    "Oh, I can''t lose my composure now."


    Kojirou cleaned the blood off of his blade and sheathed it. He returned to the Lioness to see what happened.


    "Say, why were they following you?"


    "There are some problems back in the West. It seems the world is in turmoil. Even here, everyone is in disaray. What is a samurai doing here anyway? These are the lands of the Nephilim."


    "Everyone has a reason. Also, I doubt he has much control over these parts now."


    "Alright, get me to Tarex. I need his help."


    "Sure, sure."


    He helped the Empress get up, and then returned to the carriage. They were preparing to leave, as the time was short.


    "Good, now that no that we are all we must go. It will be a bit crowded inside, but we can''t help it. We shall discuss when we are safe."


    As they left, villages and smaller cities were razed to the ground, Silacet once again in ruins and Molk in shambles. For one person, many rise up to the fight, sometimes to fight along them and sometimes to fight against them. One person was hated, and for that, many paid with their lives.


    Families burned alive,and children were left with no parents. War may only bring sorrow, but only in war will heroes shine.


    ? ? ?


    Far away from these lands, there is a strange place. Only monsters and others of their kind live there. Among them, there are a few peculiar ones.


    At first, it looked just like a human. When she turned(around, however, you could understand right away the difference right away. The blue skin, a lack of mouth or ears, with only two eyes following you. As she walked around, she began to transform. Her jaw began to drop and show teeth like blades. Other five eyes opened. Her hands split apart, and she started to talk with herself.


    "Yes, yes he is now on the run. I did as he said, I did good. HahahHAHAH, the brother I infected is under my control. The sisters are missing and the reaper licks his wounds. Be it a bruise on the leg or a scar on the soul he keeps it to himself. Such a petty creature, but what am I then? Sure, all I''m doing is for the good of my children. Ah, Medusa such beautiful hair, the griffons with their might. Harpies, your feathers are so beautiful, dragons you are the kings of the sky. How can I not protect you, especially from one like Daghishat. The others... They want war... Yet what has the war ever brought besides pain?"


    She kept walking around hoping for the best. All she did was for her people, yet was it truly a good choice?


    ? ? ?


    "Lord Lysander, it''s heard that the city of Silacet fell. The capital Molk as well. Many monsters and demons appeared out of thin air and destroyed everything. I heard there were sightings of a Balrorg as well."


    "Tell me, is he coming?"


    "The scouts saw a black carriage and a person with a hood driving it. They seemed to come this way."


    "I will have to face him faster than I thought. Oh dear, what am I going to do?"


    Lysander was trembling. He seemed so confident before he heard the news. It was like the sky started to fall and he had to meet his judgement the very next moment.


    "My lord, if may I ask what is wrong?"


    "M-My brother is rather... He is a good person. He withstood so many things thrown at him, but what will he do when he hears some very bad news. To lose a city and a few servants is nothing, for me or for other of my brothers and sisters. He on the other hand is much more sensible. He is not a vengeful being, but if you do make him, Tarex is a much bigger horror than a Balrorg or even a Reaper."


    "I''m afraid I do not follow my lord."


    "I say that, this might be the last time we talk old friend. When my brother comes, I will surely die."


    "What makes you say such a thing. If he is your brother he will show mercy. In the end the family is the most important thing."


    "You really don''t know my family."


    He felt a shiver down his spine. He realized that the long awaited guest finally arrived. You could feel the dread and despeair Lysander felt in that moment.


    He went down the street and saw Tarex. He was scared and happy at the same time. It was a weird feeling to put in words, was it love he felt, who knows?


    "Brother, it seems you arrived."


    "Ah Lysander, how are your experiments going?"


    He gulped. It was as he already knew what was coming.


    "Brother... I..."


    "Is there something wrong?"


    He started to get closer.


    "There is something you need to see in the laboratory. I... I really don''t want to say it to you."


    "Tell me what is this thing you want me to see. Brother..."


    "It''s not a thing?"


    "Oh, is it... no! DON''T TELL ME!"


    "Brother..."


    Tarex started running as fast as he could to Lysanders laboratory. He broker every door and sent flying anyone that stood in his way. He knew there was something bad but what he saw next left yet another scar on his soul.


    A body was laying on a table. It was decomposing but in his eyes it was still so beautiful. It should have had two wings but one was cut. He couldn''t even understand what to do.


    "Ah... Oh... Don''t run like-... He brought her here. I couldn''t do a thing... I stood there watching like a coward. I''m so sorry brother, I know how much you loved her."


    Lysander grinned under his helmet.


    "Mother, please no. This is just a joke, a really bad joke. She isn''t dead. She is just sleeping... Please don''t leave me alone. Please. Please... please..."


    He started to cry. His tears were dark as the abyss. He fell on his knees and couldn''t stop from crying. He lost one of the most important persons in his life. He was trying to deny it all, but who can deny what is right in front of him?


    Shadows started to emerge from him, embracing him and changing his appeareance. The shadowy hands entangled him and surrounded his entire armor. The helmet became a skull made of black ooze. He did all he could to keep himself from falling in the dark yet that was too much to handle.


    He got his mothers body in his hands. All he could see was a fragile being dead in his arms. He felt responsible for what happened. In his mind everything was his fault.


    Tarex began to walk outside with his mother in arms. He was leaving behind a black trail and the shadows followed him. The basilisk ghosts emerged from the ground and jumped around the place destroying the elven houses. He kept walking, and walking and walking like a dead man marching towards the gate of the netherworld. He hoped that his mother would wake up but there was no more hope.


    Everything was in vain. He once again fell on his knees and let out a howl.


    As he was crying a white figure embraced him from behind. He tried to put a hand on that person, but there was nobody there. A voice told him everything will be alright and he began to come to his senses. He was still crying, but the shadows began to disappear.


    "Traitor... Even you have... A heart...."


    "Betrayer...Even you.... Love...."


    "Horror...Even you have... A soul...."


    Everything returned to normal. The emptiness was still there. It was like someone pierced his chest. Only now he felt there was at least some hope.


    He got his mother under a beautiful blooming tree. It had blue leafs and was surrounded by yellow and red roses. He buried here there and laid next to the tree.


    A few moment later his brother came.


    "Kill me brother."


    Under his helmet Lysander still had a big grinn. Yet his brother didn''t move. He stood there, watching the horizon.


    "Come and sit here... brother..."


    He sat on the ground next to Tarex. Suddenly he put his arm around Lysander.


    "Why would I kill you. You didn''t want this right. As long as you truly regret what you have done god will forgive you, if he will then who am I to deny it? It''s painful and I can barely hold back my tears... these times are so dark, everyone losing a special person from their lifes. Tell me brother, do you resent me?"


    "You know, she always loved you more... You and Corry, but I never wished such a thing. The days when we were little playing on the streets, she would always come at us worried."


    "I... I don''t remember."


    "Ah, yes it was long ago, but I can''t describe to you how painful was for me to do such things. Our older brother, he forced me to do all of these terrible things, I waited for you so much. I said to myself Tarex will come as always and save the day, but you never came. I tried to give her something to ease the pain, she looked at me in such a way, can''t even describe it. The life in her eyes simply fading every day."


    "It''s alright brother. Today we shall weep for the dead and tomorrow we continue the fight. Wasn''t it always like that?"


    "Yes... Yes it was, her last words were, ''I love you kitten, be good from now on and tell your brother I love him as well'' ."


    Tarex embraced his brother and gave him a pat on the back. He rose up and kept looking forward.


    "Tomorrow we will head out. Would you join us Lysander?"


    "Unfortunately I can''t. Where are you headed though."


    "We are going further to the east, took quite a detour to visit you."


    "And everything for this... If you are going towards Tougoku you must know there are some civil wars or clan wars I don''t know exactly the details. It''s not safe that''s for sure though."


    "Before that, we are going to make a stop to the Forge City."


    "What forge are you talking about?"


    "I need something from the old guy."


    "I know why are you going there... Didn''t think you would indulge in such things."


    "Well, I need to calm myself a bit."


    "Mhm... Well at least don''t tell me you plan to get those girls there as well."


    "Yeah... Until I return can you keep an eye on them."


    "Starting to care about other people. That''s a new one. Well as long as they won''t trouble me too much I guess I can."


    Lysander felt his head a bit strange. His memories were tangled, he could remember the same things from other perspectives. Everything stopped making any sense, was his brother a horrible person? Was he a good one? He didn''t know anylonger.


    "Time to head back, brother."


    The two pulled themselves together and started walking back to the city. It was quiet, everyone kept looking from the houses.


    In the end they managed to return to the others..


    "Alright everyone unfortunately I have to leave... Lysander will take care of you. Before you say anything he is a much better person than I am. I know the mission was a whole other one, but things can get complicated..."


    "Tell me Tarex, what are we supposed to do here? Sangrey is a bodyguard, a knight he has one purpose. Do you expect him to just remain here... Even the Lioness is here because she needs your help. Will you just leave us behind. I wouldn''t have a problem with that but lady Lamia and Roisin lost very importan people. Will you just leave them?"


    "That''s enough Cyrillus, there must be a reason for all of this, right your highness?"


    "Thanks Kojirou, I am going to the Forge, it will be a dangerous road and I don''t want to put any of you at risk anymore. When I return we shall all go together in Tougoku and discuss everything. As things are now we are pressed by time so I''m sorry, but I shall return."


    "What exactly is the Forge?"


    "Well it''s a forge... They do have some other stuff, heh. Anyway I shall take my leave now."


    Roisin grasped his hand tight. She looked him straight in the eyes barely keeping her tears.


    "P-Promise you will return. I-I.. I don''t want to lose you as well..."


    "... Shush child, eveything will be alright. There is nothing that can put us down."


    "Promise?"


    "Yeah, I promise."

 Side Story: è°©rbol

    The wind''s howling. The Moon is shining. A clear sky. Twenty men still did not die.


    From a cliff he was watching them. Like a wolf preparing to attack, he waited and kept watch. ¨¢rbol, got down and closed in to his prey.


    These men were pillagers. They kept raiding nearby villages and nobody stopped them. Once there were some who tried their luck yet failed horribly.


    "Say, where is the next raid."


    "Eh, I don''t know ask Floki."


    "Nah he''s gonna yell at me again."


    "Then shut up. Go and get some meat, I''m starvin''..."


    ¨¢rbol was silent and looked around for the rest of them. Two near the fire, another two kept watch for any unwelcomed visitors.


    He dashed thorugh the bushes and inside the old ransacked building, Here  were the rest of them. Most of them asleep and three upstairs drinking and discussing the next raid.


    "Say Floki, do we have enough for this week?"


    "Can''t say, if the men eat they eat, can''t keep that from them. They eat too much, we raid more. Simple, very simple. There is a problem, the next target... It''s very close to the shore, probably a big one. The twenty of us... No, can''t do."


    "Then we must get rid of some..."


    "Aye, aye, aye... Get rid of five."


    As they were ending the discussion the sound of footsteps drew closer.


    Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings."Kol, is that you?"


    ¨¢rbol knocked the door and looked at them as if they were mere pests.


    "Say, you don''t happen to have some more food? Got rid of around five of your men."


    "You heard us... How many did you kill?"


    "Thirteen."


    His axes were dipped in blood.


    "You killed them in their sleep... I like it, but you will die here and now."


    Floki got his sword and shield and noded to the other two "Get him!".


    ¨¢rbol jumped on one of them and sliced his neck. The other one tried to get him, but he was too quick and the man got thrown out of the window.


    The other four outside saw their friend dead in the snow and rushed in to check what was happening.


    The duel between ¨¢rbol and Floki was fierce. None of them giving any signs of giving up. Floki bashed him with the shield and made ¨¢rbol drop his axes.


    "Seems I win."


    He wasn''t done yet. ¨¢rbol rushed in and got Floki by surprise throwing him on the ground. He started punching him in the face again and again until finally Floki couldn''t grasp his sword anymore.


    The others were left shocked by such a feat for their leader was no common bandit. He used to be a great hero in the north, but fate turned him into this mess.


    As ¨¢rbol removed his helmet they recognized him. A massive warrior, with a black beard and long hair. Weapons rumored to be made from the wood of Ygdrassil. He is one of the most renowned hunters.


    "Love meeting ya. I''m ¨¢rbol and you are dead."


    He kicked one of them between their legs and cut the other ones head right off with Flokis sword. The remaining two ran off only to be pierced by his arrows.


    The last one which was on the ground howling in pain tried to crawl out.


    ¨¢rbol steped on his head.


    "I would let you go, but you are just another filthy thief. Someone going on that path ain''t coming back. So, I''ll have pitty on you and end it all right now."


    With all of that being said he crushed his skull and returned to get his axes and helmet.


    "Hah, showing my face like that was funny. They got so damn scared, thought one of them nearly pissed himself. AHAHAHA... What''s that now?"


    He noticed some tracks in the snow. Crushed trees leading towards east.


    ¨¢rbol followed the tracks until he reached a cave. He had no good adventures in quite a while thus he was very excited to see what was inside.


    "HelloOOO!"


    There was only his echo.


    "Is anyone here? Anyone big enough to leave a trail that is impossible to miss?"


    A sudden hissing put ¨¢rbol on his guard.


    He kept walkind inside the cave and there it was a spot illuminated from outside through a crack in the caves ceiling.


    There it was... The giant white snake.


    "I am Jormungandr."

 Forge City I

    As he walked along the path alone, humming a song, Tarex felt a strange presence somewhere near him.


    "...? Rest your little eyes... Darkness shall never rise  ? ...


    ...?Rest a little longer... Now you''ll be a monster?...


    ...?Death will never come... Suffer for what you have done?..."


    He heard someone close by. However, when he stopped to look behind him, he saw nobody.


    "Come out!"


    "Nice song,. How did you know I was following you?"


    "I didn''t."


    "Sure... Say, how can you be so calm?"


    "Hmmm... That is a good question, my dear Kojiro. You see, with time, you begin to lose. Some things inside your head that is. I mean, we aren''t normal, after all. Stuck together and yet so alone."


    "That is a rather vague explanation. Let¡®s share our stories and see if there is something we could do for each other."


    "Just say you need some help, brat."


    "No, I want a genuine bond, not to be a mere mercenary. I want someone I can rely on, someone that will understand me."


    "Are you sure you want me to be that certain someone? So you really want to marry me that bad  huh? I''m flattered but you are not my type."


    "I... Wh-What? Oh, you know very well what I meant! Stop avoiding my proposal... No... My deal. I know you would have used that..."


    "Use what... Oh, hehe, you sure are a strange one."


    "Look who''s talking."


    "Well, we have quite a long way to go, so why not. What do you want to know?"


    "Tell me who you are."


    "Haven''t I done that already?"


    "Not you, I mean them..."


    "Oh, alright then. Let me just..."


    Black ooze started drippng from his armor. It felt like an aboslutely different being had emerged.


    "???? ?? ?? ??? ???? ???? ??, ?????? ????"


    "Now, that is a hideous voice. Who are you?"


    "?? ???? ??????, ?? ?????? ??? ?????."


    "Then, what are you?"


    "?? ??? ?????."


    "No no no, who are you, not him, I mean...  Sigh... Tell me who are you more exactly other than Tarex?"


    "?? ?? ?????? ???? ??? ? ???. ?? ??? ???. ?V??? ???? ?? ????, ? ??? ??? ???????."


    "So you die and then resurrect omehow?"


    "...???..."


    "Alright, send him back."


    "Got your answers?"


    "More or less. What exactly are these things?"


    "A curse, probably. Every time I die, my soul is shattered in smaller pieces. Later, it becomes  whole, and then it shatters again. The thing you see dripping, that comes from the cracks. The  voices are the same. I lose myself, my memories, until nothing is left, and then... I come back."


    Kojirou stopped and began thinking for a moment. There were a few things which didn''t really match. He was possessed by these dark things, and he seems to be unable to remember things which just happened. There was something hiding, and not even Tarex knew what.


    "They were talking as if there were more. What was that about?"


    "I think you heard enough. It''s my time to ask something."


    "Right when it started getting interesting. What do you wanna know?"


    "How I am supposed to help you? Your clan is dead. Your brother, and your lover as well. The lands you had... razed from the face of the world. You have nothing. The one who did it was killed by the shogun in a recent battle. You have nothing to achieve, there is nothing else for you there. What do you need help with?"Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.


    "It seems I asked the wrong questions... I have no idea how you know all of this, but it is true. Help me conquer lands, help me out to become a strong ruler in the East, and I will guarantee the help of every clan. We will take Sillacet back."


    If Tarex wasn''t able to tell him everything, neither could Kojirou.


    "And there is one more thing you want... I see. Wel, that much can be granted."


    The pressure Kojirou felt increased dramatically, and then many other voices of Tarex made the land tremor. They all agreed to help.


    ?? ????? ????? ??? ?????.


    "Now, that was scary... Awwww."


    "Oh... Well... I-I don''t even know how to respond to that."


    "Ah, never mind. How long until we reach the Forge?"


    "Three days."


    "We¡®re gonna walk for... three days... "


    "To tell you the truth, we will get to have some fun before we get to work. If you want to, of course."


    "I don''t know if I like your kind of fun."


    Tarex got closer and whispered a few words in his ear.


    "Alright Tarex... I accept your deal."


    The two of them fist bumped and got back on the road.


    While he was rather happy with his plan, Kojirou didn''t quite understand  his reasoning. They were simply wasting time with no actual purpose. He went to search for a weapon and a key. Everything was getting more and more confusing for him. There was nothing he could do but keep up with Tarex at this point.


    ? ? ?


    In the west, the council which prepared the empress¡® demise emerged from the shadows. They called themselves the Blue Blood Acolytes. With them in the spotlight(,) the west began preparing for war. Thousands upon thousands of weapons and sets of armor were forged. New forts emerged in every part of the kingdom, and, in a few months, they made their appearance. The West armies were ready for battle. The capital city was filled with their banners and soldiers marching outside to destroy the so called foes in the East and South.


    Ten masked figures met in the throne room and began discussing the first objective of their campaign.


    "I believe the first priority should be finding a goal. A goal, of course, for the people. They won''t simply agree to our plans."


    "It is true. We shall tell them war was declared by the shogun. As for the southern raiders, we need no motive. They are under a bad spotlight anyway."


    "We can''t simply ignore them. For the time being, we shall make something up about the shogun. The raiders can be put on hold, yet we must not forget about them."


    "Yeah, you never like leaving matters unsolved. Well, tell us, General. Why did you help us? I have to admit, I never expected you of all people to betray Aurelie."


    "The empress is a mad woman. That shaman filled her head with stupid myths and legends. Now she believes that man was a Nephilim and simply gave him the kingdom. I couldn''t let her be anymore."


    "Ah, such a loyal dog. Loyal to the people, I suppose."


    "This was the better course of action. My heart still hurts, but it was the right decision."


    "We shall conclude the rest of the matters at a later time. For now, let¡®s take back the part of the kingdom your empress gave away and march onward to Tougoku."


    "Understood."


    As everyone left the room, the General prepared himself. He took his sword and helmet and went to meet with his troops. It was raining, and the wind was blowing strong.


    "Was it truly the best  course of action to betray her?"


    He was feeling remorseful, and it couldn''t be helped. Jarlen, son of unknown parents, right hand of the empress. Now, a traitor who pledges allegiance to whoever he deems fit for the role. That''s what he felt like. In truth, if he could go back and serve Aurelie, he would, but that was no longer an option.


    He walked with his golden helmet on and his sword in hand. In front of him, all the troops were watching. They were waiting for a battle cry or some words of wisdom. Everything he could think about was the empress, but how could he talk about her now?


    He couldn''t, and so he said the only thing he wished.


    "Many of us shall die. But as we die, we WILL bring glory to the kingdom! ONWARD SOLDIERS! To War!"


    Every soldier began cheering, and they all started their march again. They were easily moved by such words, as most of them simply wished glory and fame.


    A few weeks later, the soldiers managed to reach the capital city of Molk. While It was burning, some tracks were still fresh, and that meant there were still survivors.


    As they checked the city walls, they saw a hole in the northern part of it. It looked as if it was cut by giant claws. They had to wander around and investigate.


    As they kept moving, some troops were stationed on the guard towers that were still standing. The scouts were searching the nearby forests  and inside the city as well.


    In the middle of the capital, they finally found something. It was the body of a giant demon, a Balrog. The flames were estinguished, and on his head a  warrior in white armor. It was lifeless , and his spear was inside the barlorg''s head. A hero  who died standing his ground surrounded by demons and other horrors.


    "To think someone could be able to do this."


    "Hey I found someone still alive!"


    "Tend to them! We need to hear what happened here."


    "Yes, Captain!"


    The man had bite marks all over his armor. To be alive after such wounds was nothing short of a miracle.


    "Argh... Wh-Where am I?"


    "You need to recover. We must first remove your armor and see how deep the wounds are."


    "Did we win the battle...?"


    "The city has been destroyed. There were many civilian and military casualties. You are one tough guy."


    "Thank you..."


    The man lost consciousness. The lady apothecary began to remove his armor and tend to his wounds.


    "Hmm, a bone fracture. Bite marks, not so deep... The armor held them off. His ribs seem to be nearly crushed from the feel of it. Something fell on him. He was saved by pure luck."


    A man entered inside the tent.


    "Apothecary. How is he doing?"


    "He should be alright if we give him time. If you want answers, you might have to wait a week until he regains his strength."


    "Alright. During that time, the rest of our men will arrive, and the General as well. We should be able to make a full report in time."


    "We should leave now and let him rest."


    "Make sure he won''t die. At this moment, he is the only one who might know what happened. If something bad is out there, we might have to fortify this position and create a strategy or ask for help."


    "I''m a mere apothecary, Captain. Why tell me this?"


    "You are also the woman I love. I guess you can keep this from others, can''t you?"


    "Oh, is that so? Unfortunately, I am in love with my work so that might be a problem for you."


    "Hah, I like a strong woman. You don''t fear men, you don''t fear seeing blood and guts. Oh, I am falling for you even more."


    "Do keep your distance or I will break your arm."


    "Well, I guess I will take my leave then."


    "That would be best."

 Lost Memories I

    Warmth...


    Summer... A beautiful day with a beautiful sun. The forest so silent and so... peaceful. These were supposed to be hard times for the world yet the Nehpilims never felt it.


    Kelika, a tall woman covered in a golden plated armor was standing  on a stump. Her voice was as sweet as honey. She was waiting for someone. While the people were coming she kept singing an old song.


    Her eyes were deep blue yet you could not see the rest her face as the helmet was covering it.


    "Brother Kain, where are you?"


    From behind Kelika two figures appeared. Both of them were much taller.


    Kain had a rather bulky armor compared to the other two.


    "Tarex! You came as well?"


    Tarex, her little brother was joining the expedition as well. The armor itself was black with golden edges.


    They were all equipped with a special weapon except for Tarex.


    Kelika had a ornate spear and Kain a great war axe.


    Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions."It is nice to see you again sister. It''s been so long."


    "Come here little brother."


    Tarex got closer to his sister. She hugged him tightly for a few moments.


    "Something happened?"


    "It''s just that, I didn''t think I will see you this soon."


    "Kelika, I promise I will visit you more."


    "I''m glad."


    Kain stopped their touching reunion.


    "We should get moving. Hope you are prepared... Outside our weald it''s considered enemy territory."


    "Brother Kain, why did you bring Tarex if it''s dangerous?"


    "Vesper told us to bring him along."


    "Any particular reason?"


    "He said Tarex is a Sigma."


    She paused for a moment. Kelika looked at Tarex and put her hands on his cheeks.


    "We will keep protecting you no matter what father says."


    The girl turned back to Kain and told him to keep going.


    Soon the three of them made their way outside and reached a village.


    The people were simple. Most of them farmers, a few traders were also around. Of course everyone was scared when seeing them. Even Kelika, the smallest of them was enormous compared to the villagers.


    The girl along with Tarex waited near a bench under a tree. They were standing on the ground so they wouldn''t destroy the bench itself.


    "How is it brother? Seeing how this people live... It seems much more... Easier."


    "Very different compared to Sillacet. Although I do like it."


    "It truly is different. It makes you wonder why were they forsaken?"


    "For a sin they did not commit. I believe evil is in everyone... Depends if they accept it or not. These people... You can see it, they are afraid, if they had the power they would trample us... Just because we are different."


    "That''s a really grim way to look at this. Let me share my belief. I think in everyone there is good... No matter how bad they might look or actually be. Deep down we are all the same."


    "You put too much faith in everyone Kelika."


    She turned to her brother and put her finger on his nose.


    "You need to trust people more."


    "Heh... Alright, I''ll try at least."

 Lost Memories II

    Fear...


    A dark sky, raindrops slowly falling upon the land. You could smell the fresh cent of the forest all over the city of Sillacet. Most of the citizens were staying inside, but Tarex kept training.


    It was a square area surrounded by white pillars. The training ground where the sons of the king all used to practice.


    Tarex kept swining an old sword again and again and again... Hopeless... Uncertain... He fell and started punching the ground.


    Near him a hooded man was sharpening his blade. He glanced once at Tarex then back at his sword.


    "Hehe... The earth did nothing to you kiddo. What''s the rush? What''s the problem? Hehe.."


    "I don''t know! I want to know!"


    "Aha... You had a little talk with Vesper, I see, get up."


    Tarex got back on his feet and went to the man.


    "You look like a wet mutt. Listen here, you were told what to do. You''ve been given great responsibility for which you are not prepared. This is why I''m here."


    "You are simply a servant. It doesn''t mean you actually do care about us!"


    "A while ago... That might have been true. Also I am not a simple servant you moron, I am your friend as well."


    He punched Tarex in the chest gently and gave him a stern look.


    "I''ll make out of you a great leader. Even greater than Vesper is, I''ll help you rise above and I''ll be there for you."


    Tarex felt that the man in front of him was more like a father than his actual one. It was strange, yet it made him feel much better.


    "Alright get out there and do what I tell you."


    Tarex listened closely to his friend. He put his all in one swing and... nothing happened.


    Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.He kept doing it until night came. Suddenly something he wasn''t prepared for occured.


    Tarex tried to strike again and from his hilt a flame surrounded the blade making it much bigger. Once he swung the blade the fire cut the pillars in front of him.


    "So your affinity is for fire. That''s really..."


    He stopped and looked again. He could not believe it. The space itself was cut by his swing. It was like a slash in the reality.


    He looked at Tarex and saw some nearly invisible wires coming from his fingers.


    "Put the sword down and move your fingers slowly."


    As he moved his fingers the hole got bigger. Tarex noticed as well thus with one hand he pointed down and with the other up and closed the hole.


    "You might have the affinity of fire, but that... Speak with Vesper about this. I am not used with such... abilities."


    "I will. Thanks for everything Renate."


    After he left Renate went close to the sliced pillars.


    "This... This is a problem."


    ? ? ?


    The castle of the Nephilims. Inside resided the royal family. Statues of knights watching over them in the throne room. The inside of the castle was made out of white marble. Black rugs in the hallways and most of the rooms. Red flags hanging around, on the flags it was their emblem, a sword pointing down.


    Tarex went inside to look for his father. He got through the throne room up the stairs. He kept walking through the hallways and for a moment he nearly missed him. Tarex took a few steps back and saw Vesper on the balcony.


    The giant covered in white armor plated with gold. His wings as bright as the sun. He could barely see his face. An old man with gray hair and a long beard. He was watching from up there over the entire city.


    Tarex got closer to try and talk with him.


    "Father..."


    He did not flinch. Keeping his eyes on the city.


    "Father can you listen to me?"


    "Ah... Yes, I was lost in thought. What is it son?"


    "There is this weird ability, Renate told me to come and talk with you."


    He explained everything to Vesper. The ability and his worries as well. How he didn''t feel prepared as well as many other concerns.


    "Tarex, I was actually waiting for this to happen. The ability to weave reality, just like Letitia. I know you are afraid, I know this is much to ask of you right now. There will be a time when I am no more, your brothers or your sisters could have been chosen, but I wanted you."


    "WHY!?"


    "Because you are the kindest of them."


    "How can you say that? Do you actually know any of my brothers or sisters? They are better than me in each and every aspect. They are better... just better..."


    "Yet you will be the king. I know how much you love them. I know how much they love you, but this is your task. Rise and become as strong as me then keep getting stronger. Never be afraid of any man, monster or demon. I know you can become a better king than I ever was."


    "Do you even understand what you are asking? How am I supposed to do any of that?"


    Vesper turned and gave Tarex a helmet.


    "This helmet... Letitia loved this one. She will no longer leave the city, thus she told me to give you this."


    "Mother... Why...?"


    "She gave you her helmet and I will give you my sword."


    "Please don''t do this."


    "Everything will rest on your shoulders now... son."

 Insanity

    Oh, how one could fall. To come down from that high spot he was put on. You were born for greatness. HA, don''t make me laugh. Your destiny does not exist, you are but a tool, for my entertainment. The moment you felt warmth, when you thought everything is perfect, that nothing can change... I took everything  you ever loved. It seems like a cliche to me, I took something dear to you... For revenge? To fulfill my dumb ambition? For some forsaken knowledge?


    I did it, because I could... Hehe, you see insanity is born from the depths of darkness, I am but a simple servant of the black void you call hell. Losing your loved ones, losing those you hold MOST dear, breaking your mind... Making you feel no remorse in killing the weak... It brings me joy. I hate you so much, for I know this fun won''t last forever. Oh how you brought war upon these mortal fools. Breaking their bones, ripping their flesh, becoming a demon even more so than me. If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    It is just so much fun to watch my little monster grow... Yet again, I know it won''t last, but just for this long... Suffer MORE, betray and be betrayed, KILL AND PLUNDER, rip and tear until there is nothing left... I got no power over you, I simply broke your mind, corrupted your soul...


    No... That is the reason I am here... That soul...


    In truth, being simply my pawn, not being able of truly understanding what you do... A pure soul, untainted, uncorrupted... It will change, in time.


    As for those you managed to save, some damsels in distress, they will find their own doom.


    Sooner or later, I am prepared for everything... My immortal friend...


    Show this world true and absolute CHAOS!

 The Order I

    As the sun shines over the young empire of the West, the Acolytes put their plans in motion.


    Through the city their footsteps shake the earth. A massive army marching through the streets, holding their banners high. Blue flags with a black open eye in the center.


    All of the soldiers wore scale armor and were equipped with kite shields and bastard swords. They kept going until they reached the front gates of the palace.


    One of the Acolytes emerged from the shadows and greeted them.


    "Dear citizens, these soldiers came as reinforcements to defend the city. Do not be afraid, they are here to guarantee your safety."


    He returned from where he came from, soon one of his attendants joined him.


    "Master, what is the next step."


    "First of all, bring me my armor. I will lead these fools far into south. We also need a large quantity of provisions. Tell them to sharpen their swords, we are in search of a Nephilim."


    "I thought they were myths."


    "Because we wanted you to believe that. They are as true as my flesh and bones. They are also strong, tell me Mateus, what do you know about war?"


    "I... I don''t know anything sir."


    "War, for me at least, is a playground. I love being in the field, fighting with all I have, making the enemies kneel before me. War, for you, is nothing that should matter. Remember your place in this ''society'' if I can even call it that."


    "Yes sir..."


    "Good boy, now go and bring me what I asked for and inform the soldiers."


    As soon as Mateus left another Acolyte came.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    "I really do enjoy when you give him advices."


    "What do you want?"


    "What? Oh you know very well what I do want. Don''t go... If you go south you might not return. That desert is the smallest problem, you will face raiders which know the terrain much better than you¡­ You might face their leader as well."


    "Then I simply have to outmatch them. As for that man, he is very unlucky if I am the one who finds him first."


    "You can''t go in blindly like that!"


    "Watch me, remember what Vesper did for us! He is the reason we still are an order and we have all that we have!"


    "I..."


    "If we can''t even save one of his daughters then WE SHOULD JUST QUIT!"


    "Please calm down Lefric."


    The room was silent. He took a seat on a chair nearby.


    "I can''t calm down. Vesper was our founder. That demon corrupted them all... We must find a way to solve this mess."


    "We will find a way, but you must calm down."


    "Alright, alright... are the new machines ready?"


    "Nearly."


    "I shall wait one more week. Then I am going after Cory."


    "As you wish."


    The other figure was preparing to leave then Lefric pulled their sleeve.


    ¡°Before you go. What do you think, what kind of person¡­ What is the worst kind of being you ever encountered?¡±


    ¡°Probably hypnotist and those assholes that can manipulate time.¡±


    ¡°Oh yeah, we fought lots of them in Markzha.¡±


    ¡°Your memory still fuzzy?¡±


    ¡°Yes, went berserk there to stop them from messing with my mind. Burned a lot of people that day.¡±


    ¡°You know that some escaped. Those depraved things, wielding such vile trickery. They disgust me¡­¡±


    Lefric got up on his feet. He went after Mateus then stopped for a moment.


    ¡°Kana, I will return. You must stay here and be the voice of reason for the order.¡±


    ¡°I might be the voice of reason for them¡­ Although it seems I am not that voice for you.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s only because I am a fool. Let¡¯s meet again here¡­ or in the afterlife.¡±


    Strong noises came from outside. Everyone seemed to be panicked hurrying inside their houses. The soldiers were on their guard.


    The wind started blowing harder and harder. On the main road leading to the castle a hooded figure stood there, waiting. The clothes were ripped and teared apart. One could see the bony body underneath. In his right hand he held a staff. Crows made circles around him.


    ¡°Saja anke, se uri¡­ vokt.¡±


    Kana went outside the palace to heard his words.


    ¡°Foul fiend, we know you and there is nothing to talk about. Leave while the order is still in a good mood.¡±


    The undead being made a few steps forward and looked at her.


    ¡°Ank, su veram se ot hinek.¡±


    ¡°I know you speak our language. I tell you once again¡­ Leave!¡±


    He was not pleased, yet there was nothing to do. The undead took one of his arm bones and put it on the staff. The bone had holes through it and with the strong wind it began to sing like a flute. He turned and started to walk away.


    ¡°Amakhu se uri ot vakar su. Amakhu¡­ Se naly ot su.¡±

 Forge City II

    The sky was filled with dark clouds and soon it started to clear. Tarex and Kojirou managed to arrive at the Forge.


    "Say are we there yet?"


    "We arrived."


    "Please tell me you are joking... There is nothing here!"


    "The Forge exists outside this realm. Let me just..."


    Tarex made a circle with his hands and then slowly extended them. As he moved his hands to open the portal you could catch a glimpse from the other side. A grand city illuminated with warm colors. In the distance the sound of metal clashing echoed and in the middle you could see him. A titan working on something. Smithing, striking the metal again and again. It felt like he would never stop.


    The city around him seemed like a nest of ants in comparison. That was only from distance as the city itself was just as large. Much larger than Sillacet or Molk. It resembled a whole kingdom in shape of an anvil.


    "And... we are going through the southern part right...?"


    "Yes."


    "You got the money, right?"


    "Oh, you bet I have the money."


    "Let¡¯s do this."


    The two of them entered through the portal and as soon as they entered it closed. They moved through darkness for a few minutes, shadows stalking them and in the end light illuminated the two.


    A guard noticed them. He was wearing chainmail and held a spear in his left hand.


    "What is your purpose here strangers?"


    "We came to meet the forge master."


    "Nobody meets Hephaestus anymore. He refuses to see any visitors. Anyway, how did you arrive here. There is only one entrance to the forge and It was sealed looong ago."


    "I made a new one. Let us in, we want some... Other things as well."


    "Tell me why should I let you in?"


    "Alright, alright¡­ We are here for the fourth district."


    "... Open the gates!"


    The two of them entered and the guards came down.


    "Because you are new here let us give you some advice. Don''t go to that woman Nova. She is one merciless bitch."


    "Oh, but for her I came. Last time I was here oh boy, it was... Wait no, you said Nova? Who in their right mind would choose that one... Sheesh, I nearly lost a life after I went to her."


    "As long as you know, have fun boys."


    The two of them left the guards behind and walked towards the district. They were surrounded by beautiful women each of them seemingly unfazed by their strange appearance.


    "Ok so let me instruct you. If you choose a succubus you might die, depends on which one you get, here are the names of a few you should avoid. The serpents are the best, they are into some strange stuff but hey you can get on with it no problem. Now that woman Nova is a satyr, do not, I repeat DO NOT go anywhere near her. They might get you in some kind of ritual or something and trust me is not pleasant¡­ It¡¯s¡­ It¡¯s just not pleasant at all.."Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.


    "And the human ones? Please do tell me there are humans as well..."


    "Well yeah, but why wouldn''t you try something different? I mean come on, there are lamias, harpies, werewolves, nagas and many more¡­ Oh so much more."


    "Because I value my life? I DON''T KNOW? How would you like to die on a woman that''s sucking out your soul?"


    "Done that, ain''t too nice indeed. Well the harpies and the humans are pretty normal. There are some you should avoid as well but you know... Small chance to meet them."


    "Alright then give me..."


    "Hello Tarex..."


    "Ah a familiar figure, who might you... be...?"


    "Uh... Is that... one from the list, and that one... oH SHIT!"


    Tarex slowly turned his head to Kojirou. He looked him in the eyes and you could see what was on his mind.


    "SAVE ME KOJIROU!"


    "Owww, come on Tarex why do you hate us so much. Last time you didn''t yell like this, it was much more... Interestiting so to say."


    Nova could also read his mind from time to time. The women he was talking about took Tarex away.


    "It seems I''m alone... And free of danger. OH YES!"


    Thus the two ''heroes'' proceeded to indulge in their lust. A few days later Kojirou began to search for Tarex. After a few hours of intense search and drinking he finally found him.


    "What happened?"


    "...I don¡¯t want to talk about it¡­¡±


    "Oh my, they seem to like you quite a lot."


    "What can you do when you are as gorgeous as me?"


    "Tarex... I have never seen you once without your armor and helmet. Trying to brag like that is plain stupid... At least to me."


    "Oh right... Fair enough, at least I gave this city a few days of freedom. Also, listen here you little shit, I am gorgeous!"


    "Yeah... a true hero... And a humble one at that."


    "Please, because of those women I lost every ounce of innocence I still had."


    "I got what I wanted, let¡¯s find that forge master now. Get up, come on."


    He helped Tarex to get up and the two of them headed towards the Forge.


    As they moved forward the bright city began to fade and seemed to be gloomier and gloomier as they proceeded. The sound of metal striking metal began to intensify. Soon they saw the giant titan smithing."


    "It''s been a long time forge master."


    "Oh... It''s you."


    "I came to recover that key."


    "You know very well only the king is allowed to use it. "


    "I am the king!"


    The giant stopped his smithing. The whole city could hear it, the silence, and everyone knew one thing. The moment that sound stops something bad must have happened.


    The titan took a closer look at Tarex and seemed confused.


    "You are not the boy I knew... What do you want shadow, trying to play pranks on this old titan?"


    "Ah... Let us be frank. You will give me the key. It is for a greater cause... We need the Armada. "


    "That voice irritates me. I will give you the key as I don''t know what it might open. But let me be clear. My armor, my helmet, my steel can not be shattered. You might threaten me, you might try to even kill me. Yet I won''t die for I am cursed. Just like you."


    "We just need that. No threats old one."


    "It was just an advice. The old King came and said to never give this key to anyone... That was a long time ago. I made no such promise and you will pester me until I''ll give it to you."


    "That is pretty right. Sooooo, can we have it?"


    "Yes, but you have to help me as well."


    "Just tell us."


    "Many beings gathered here during the past thousands of years. They build this city, they keep it together somehow. I began to enjoy having them around. There are some people around that started making trouble. End them."


    "If that''s all you need. Just tell me where do I start."


    "Talk with Nova. She knows the city better than me."


    "Please... Not her..."


    "Oh, it seems you know her, even better. Before you leave, I''ll grant you this."


    The titan struck his anvil and from it golden energy began to emerge. It made a circle around Tarex and began to pour into his armor.


    "Nothing should be able to shatter your armor now."


    Not a moment passed and the energy disappeared and the armor returned to its former state.


    "I''m sorry. This armor is different than what you smith. It can''t be enhanced, enchanted or improved in any form or shape. It also can''t be shattered. If you remember it."


    ...The curse of perpetual agony¡­

 Forge City III

    In the end Tarex let the titan to get back to his work . Now his search began. He went inside an Inn close to the titan''s district. Kojirou went ahead during their conversation and was now waiting for him.


    "Say, got what you needed?"


    "We got more work to do."


    "Well then, let me finish this drink and we go."


    "Nah, get another one. I want a drink as well¡­ Know what make it two."


    "So, we have more work¡­ I suppose it¡¯s not just any work."


    "I... I have to meet Nova..."


    Kojirou nearly chocked with his drink. Then he looked at Tarex in awe.


    "You will get back to that woman!?"


    "Unfortunately..."


    "Well then, this might be your last drink so let¡¯s make it count."


    "I hate you."


    "I love you too."


    Both of them drank until morning came. The inn was closed yet the owner couldn''t do anything to them. In the end who would approach two warriors like them?


    "Ah... I fell asleep. Gonna put the money here and go meet with... Nova..."


    He let the money on the table and moved outside. Tarex walked alone through the city towards the fourth district. Even in this city filled with strange beings, Tarex was an outcast. Everyone was looking at him in fear and some with curiosity.


    The city is closed to the outside world and only a few are chosen to enter. Even those are rare. In the last few decades more people began to arrive inside the city¡­ adventurers, bounty hunters, blacksmiths, soldiers, monsters and many others. It¡¯s believed that a group is controlling the access gate and are gathering a small army to take the city.


    Tarex arrived at the brothel were Nova was working. He went in and asked her about these new ¡®intruders¡¯ from the city.


    "Alright I understand up to this point what''s happening. So any actual clues to where I should go and search."


    "Oh come on Tarex, you hate me that much? Why do you wanna leave so soon?"


    "I... I can''t say I hate you, especially after the last nights. My problem is that you have no limits. You nearly killed me, not once, not twice, but five times in but a few nights."


    "Well, you did enjoy it. You are a strong man Tarex, that much I realize. From my perspective, you like to brag about how much you suffered... ."


    "Tha-... I guess I do that...huh, couldn''t say I realized it."


    "Well then, you should go and check the north district. I heard some guys were making trouble."


    "I''m going out then."


    "Wait. Can I see your face? I mean we know each other for a long time, but I never seen your face. Only that damned helm..."


    "You can dream Nova, you can dream."


    "Can you at least describe yourself? I felt your pain, I know you don¡¯t really brag with all your suffering. You need someone you can rely on, let me understand you."Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.


    He stopped for a moment. Tarex was glad, this woman, even though she was vicious she actually cared. For a moment he really wished to talk about everything, but something stopped him.


    "Goodbye Nova."


    "Awwww... Jackass."


    As he was leaving the pleasure district Tarex felt somebody watching him. From the shadows a few people were stalking him. Everyone went inside and it made everything even more suspicious.


    At this moment in time the disctirct should have been crowded. Full of people and merchants.


    From behind a man hit Tarex with a blunt weapon hoping to knock him out. Unfortunately for him, the armor was too thick.


    Right after the hit the armored juggernaut turned and took a look at his assailant. The man had second thoughts about his action upon seeing the beast face to face, but now was not the time to ponder his actions.


    He signaled the others and twenty more came to his rescue.


    They all got close and started to hit Tarex with swords, knifes and magic attacks. They changed formations and let the second group attack again. One attack after another without pause.


    Everything was covered by dust. Nobody could see a thing.


    They waited for the dust to settle and there he was.


    Standing. He did not move an inch, there were no dents, no scratches on his armor...Nothing.


    "Wha-What are you?"


    "I was hoping to be entertained by your futile attacks. Maybe to learn something new. It seems I was wrong. Only weaklings... Tell me who sent you and I might consider leaving some of you alive."


    A man from behind the group felt the need to ask him about that arrangement.


    "Hey, uh... If we tell you, can you let us all alive?"


    "Hmmm, I suppose I could."


    "Oh thanks, there is a man here in the pleasure district in a warehouse. He keeps stolen goods and other stuff there."


    "Good, good to know. Now any other things I should know?"


    "Yes... Behind you."


    From behind someone used a concentrated spell and sent Tarex flying.


    "Ah, that hurt for a change. I won''t ask who you are, I won''t put any questions, but damn. That spell really packed a punch.


    "Thank you deer. It is a pleasure to meet yo-..."


    Everything began to roll around. There was a strange feeling and then a sudden pain.


    His head was cut clean off with one swift swing.


    ? ? ?


    "Hey friend, you know it''s not nice to let others sleep at the table. Should have told me we had to move you know?"


    "Ah, I wanted to kill that guy. It''s been so long since I got some actual damage and not from Nova."


    "So what did you find?"


    "Wait a moment Kojirou. -Spectral Shift- "


    The city bcame grey and from Tarex a dark shape emerged.


    It ran through the city and started scouting.


    "What was that?"


    "My other self."


    "In any case, were are we going now?"


    "That warehouse might be a trap, but there could be clues as well."


    "It''s not like they can kill us, so let¡¯s go."


    They searched the place for a few hours. In the end there was only one building. It seemed abandoned and it didn''t resemble a warehouse at all. It looked more like a shack.


    "Lets see what''s inside."


    "After you, I don''t like dusty places. I keep sneezing."


    "You serious right now? Fine you little shit, I''m going alone."


    "Thanks."


    There was nothing inside. Only old furniture and broken walls.


    Tarex decided to go in the basement and check what could be there. He found what he needed. Round tones inscribed with runes. These were left after somebody entered the city through the main access gates. It was a method to keep track of the people entering the forge. Such a large ammount showed there were a lot of illegal trespassers.


    The problem was there were only names, many names. He couldn''t narrow down the area of search. He couldn''t find anything about each individual besides the name. It was pointless to look any further He could take each stone and search around the city due to their proprieties, but that would take too long and Tarex is not as patient as others might think.


    He got the box with the stones and went outside.


    "Hey Kojirou. I found something, there are too many people so we are going to separate."


    "Yeah... Wait. There is someone watching us."


    "I hope there is not another ambush."


    "Oh, but we are not doing things that way, Kojirou if you may let us discuss in private that would be best."


    The man who appeared kicked Kojirou far enough to have a little talk with the Nephilim.


    "Who might you be then?"


    "My name is not important. You should stop what you are doing and give the stones back."


    "I''m sorry, but after I take you cockroaches out, I''ll get the armada. It would be a big help if you all died by your own will, but hey where would the fun be in that."


    "What is this Armada you are talking about? I heard you talking with the titan about it as well. Is it that precious?"


    "Heh, it''s so much more. Enough of that, I suppose you want to fight?"


    "Heh... indeed, I don''t like fighting, but it was quite some time since I had a good opponent."


    "Would you risk your life?"


    "Oh, but how else would we fight?"

 Forge City IV

    Tarex prepared himself as the opponent in front of him was not someone he could take lightly. There was something strange with him as well. There was a nostalgic feel and then a sudden pain. Through years he learned how to ignore pain, but this was very odd.


    The man jumped at him and began striking him again and again. Every blow was strong and accurate. It made Tarex tremble as each hit felt like it could be the last he could take on.


    As soon as Tarex tried to hit back, his opponent blocked his punch and hit again. He tried to get some space, but his enemy did not hold back. With a fast leap he kicked Tarex in the helmet and sent him flying into a building.


    By sheer luck he managed to hit him back and create a gap between them. For once there was someone he couldn¡¯t beat with sheer force. He couldn¡¯t use his abilities either. Everything started to fade away. A image appeared in front of him, two people inside something that looked like a coffin.


    "What is the matter your ''highness'' I thought you will be stronger."


    "I''m just having some fun¡­ Alright, my loss."


    He was trying to buy himself some time.


    "Liar."


    "O ho ho, then I''m sorry, do you wish to continue?"


    "So you still have it in you."


    The truth was Tarex did not have it in him. He thought for a moment, maybe this is was his time. Maybe he could finally embrace the angel of death and be free of his immortal shackles.


    "Who do you want to fight?"


    "I see nobody else. Please stop trying to buy yourself time, you disappoint me.¡±


    "Well there is me...And there is also me... Uhm, yes."


    From his armor black ooze started to drip. It was clear as day he couldn¡¯t be faced alone in this state. His opponent realized that. Even though he appeared weak something was off. His enemy couldn¡¯t be careless now, he managed to push him into a corner.


    "I am in no position to fight you in that state. It was my loss all along it seem. For now at least. Keep in mind that there are people far stronger than any of you. Until then, stay safe."


    ¡°Mocking me like that. He was strong... Too strong¡­ Good that I managed to pull out this stunt. He thought I was entering some kind of rage mod, he¡­ he he¡­¡±


    As Tarex was debating in his head who that man could have and how to make all the pain go away the next thing he felt was agony.


    In that moment he began coughing and spitting blood. It was dark. His blood was burning the ground.


    "That guy...<cough> Ah, he really hit me hard...<cough> ARGHHHH! What is this¡­ This is not death¡­ IT¡¯S¡­ so far away¡­ Who were they¡­ Were are they¡­ Why¡­¡±


    A few moments later Kojirou got back on his feet and returned to Tarex . He was still a bit dizzy from that hit. Once he managed to arrive Tarex was on the ground burning in a black flame.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    "Hey, stop sleeping in the middle of the street. Get up already."


    As he said that, Kojirou threw a bucket of water over him.


    He rose up and started to look around. At that point he realized he nearly died.


    "Ah... another one. Why can¡¯t everything just end."


    "What do you mean? Stop sulking around and let¡¯s go."


    "Nothing, it¡¯s nothing, I need to get a weapon. You should start searching for those people, take the box and search for every single one of them."


    "Sure thing, but what will you do? OH MY, you mean all of these¡­"


    "I... I have to find someone around here. Also yes, all of them."


    The two of them split up and so Tarex began to roam the city.


    ? ? ?


    In a far corner he found a shop. The one who was taking care of it seemed a bit strange.


    He looked rather young. His hair was light blue and he kept it tied. His eyes were black and dressed much fancier than any of the other merchants in the city. Much fancier than everyone he knew as well. For Tarex it was really disturbing. He never liked colored and pompous clothing.


    "Hello¡­ May I ask you name?¡±


    The man took a quick glance at him. He had a big grin on his face for a second then reverted to normal.


    "Hello, Hello, Hello! I am Nephogram, how may I help you master Tarex?"


    "I suppose you know me somehow or from somewhere. I won¡¯t put any questions, but keep in mind I am not fond of people like you so let¡¯s get down to business."


    "Oh no, we never met, but I knew we will. You see, time is rather abstract sometimes. There are so many threads to follow, number one somebody lost everything and in number two he got everything. I really can¡¯t say for sure what the future has for them as there are so many choices they have."


    "Oh, I heard about people like you. You can see the future. Well then guess what will I ask."


    "I know what you want. I can give it to you, free of charge. There is a thing you could do for me in exchange though. You will say either yes or no. The problem is if you say no, I still win something."


    "So¡­ you have a weapon for me?"


    "Oh, this is no normal weapon. I like to call it Coelum Ruptor. The handle and the double axe head are tied with a chain which makes it an excellent weapon for someone as strong as you. It also gives you enough range to reach those annoying opponents."


    "And that favor you ask for this weapon?"


    "You will simply adventure into the world. That is all you need to do... and you will do it not because I asked. You will do it because you believe it''s right. Your actions are right, but the overall outcome is war, famine... It is a delight watching everything. Also you should be careful, people watch you."


    "You... You are no human, what are you? Also who is watching me, what is that supposed to mean."


    "If I asked you the same you wouldn''t know what to say. The only thing we both have in common is immortality. Ah, but your body and soul are cursed. I will let you ask me one question just because you look like a nice man. Also I am not telling you who is watching. I might get into trouble, that damnable human making me look like this."


    "Ah, that means you don''t know what I''m going to ask."


    "Well this is a tricky one. I saw you ask many things already, but I don''t know what you will truly choose."


    "Tell me, what will become of me?"


    "Oh... That one... Your life will be miserable. You will lose everything and everyone, you will lose your memories and roam the land for hundreds, thousands, millions of years until you collapse. You will sleep and wake up in a darker age of the world where you will meet friends and will experience true happiness. Yet that won''t last forever as you will once again move forward in time."


    "How will it all end?"


    "There will be a girl, that will bring you so much pain. You will endure, you will sacrifice whatever is necessary and... you will live happy with her? WHAT? Now this is a new one. Might have miscalculated something. Ah you bring tears to my eyes."


    "Not what you expected?"


    "This is rather intriguing. To see you live happy. It sickens me, makes me want to puke. I will look again, but you won''t remember me. The thing with the future is that it always changes. The past however, you can''t change that."


    "I think I''ll get the axe and leave now..."


    "You will meet many people, just as many will die. I suppose you already knew that. In the end you are immortal are you not?"


    "..."


    Tarex left without saying a word. At this point he managed to get a weapon, the only problem was finding the ones who caused trouble around.


    "Ah dear Tarex.... If you would only know the truth about yourself, then again that would spoil all my fun. Roam this world, meet new people, make friends it will bring so much joy to me, so much pleasure. I guess if you refuse to meet my expectations... You were disposable."

 The Order II

    Lefric, lord of war for the order of the Acolytes. He used to be a cheerful person once, but everything comes to an end. Since he put his hands on a sword, he could never let it go any longer.


    ¡°Kana, are the new machines ready?¡±


    She got closer to him. The council had a golden rule. Nobody must show their faces. None knew who they were or how they came to be. With the hood and the silver mask covering her face Lefric couldn¡¯t say for sure, but he asked anyway.


    ¡°Why are you worried?¡±


    ¡°You are going to fight Jackal¡­ I beg you, don¡¯t go.¡±


    ¡°This again, ah, listen here¡­ There is a time when we will all die, if this is mine then you should be glad. I get to go and scout ahead the afterlife. We might not be there together, but maybe¡­ just maybe there is a chance. Don¡¯t cry for my death, don¡¯t shove it down on the other members. This is my choice and mine alone.¡±


    ¡°Still¡­¡±


    ¡°Listen here little girl, I brought you into this, I raised you. Keep on living, fulfill your desires. Leave the council, leave the order if needed, but don¡¯t waste your life like me.¡±


    She held back her tears. Kana clenched her fists and turned her back on him.


    ¡°We have fifty desert stalkers ready and we also managed to secure thirty crates of desolator crossbows. We found their special arrows as well. We had the blacksmiths enhance all the equipment and potions are produced by our alchemists.¡±


    ¡°Tell me about these desert stalkers. I saw them while they were put together, but I can¡¯t imagine how they can move through all the sand.¡±


    ¡°They are spider like machines which can hold up to two thousand soldiers. The legs will generate a special field which will solidify the sand making it stone like. They can do the same thing on water as well as lava, but I doubt any soldier would survive the heat of a volcano. ¡°The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°This will surely give us an advantage. They ride those giant scorpions and use those sand boats to raid the west, but they can¡¯t hold a siege in the middle of the desert, he he¡­¡±


    ¡°Do be careful, while they are similar to a walking fortress, they do have some flaws. This desert stalkers rely on the sun to charge and can keep going while there is light outside. During the night you should hold your ground and preserve the energy they gather.¡±


    ¡°Understood, anything else?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t die.¡±


    Kana left, but couldn¡¯t accept his departure this time. They used to be together through thick and thin. They managed to defeat stronger opponents than the warlord Jackal, but that was because they were together. Now nobody can cover for him¡­ only his soldiers.


    As she walked down the palace stairs three other Acolytes were waiting for her.


    ¡°Kana, we have a special assignment for you.¡±


    A glimpse of hope. Maybe they decided to send her together with Lefric. Her disappointment was even greater for thinking that.


    ¡°The order decided to send you far in the north. This is only a recon mission so do not be reckless. A rare occurrence of the red plague has appeared there. Or should we say, it existed there for a long time, unnoticed. Find out more about that place.¡±


    ¡°As the order demands it, I shall see it done.¡±


    ¡°Be careful little one. We shall send with you two Black Hounds.¡±


    ¡°Then I am more than safe. What made you decide to send two of the elites with me?¡±


    ¡°Do you know what the red plague is?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know, I heard about the green plague that became the fall for the Nephilims. I also remember some records of a black plague, but the details were not quite understandable. Those scrolls were extremely damaged.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm, you really did some research. While the black plague is dangerous, we have the means to keep it at bay. The green plague¡­ Is  a great calamity, it can¡¯t truly be stopped the only way is to burn the vegetation in the area and hope for the best.¡±


    He was silent for a moment, then he glanced towards the exit. The hounds were coming.


    ¡°The red plague, is just as dangerous as the green one. It forces people to drink blood and exposes them to demonic energies. They are cursed just like the last Nephilim to never die. It is important to see how far is gone since we only recently heard about this place.¡±


    ¡°I never heard of such a vile plague.¡±


    ¡°Vile indeed, but don¡¯t be scared. Keep your distance from everyone who might seem infected and stay near your guards.¡±


    Through the main gates two tall figures entered. Their armor was ashen and their hoods were black. They looked more like wraiths than anything else. On their gauntlets were tied twelve throwing daggers. On their waist they held scimitars and some pouches.


    The two hounds kneeled before the members of the Acolyte council.


    ¡°We have arrived.¡±

 Lost Memories III

    The room was quiet. Two people were playing a game of cards in the corner. On the walls hanged painting of warriors and castles. On the floor were red carpets and in the middle one made of bear pelt. Through the covered windows little shafts of light entered the room.


    The two people were dressed in red clothes. They kept playing the game until one of them threw his cards on the table.


    ¡°I don¡¯t feel like playing. Not with that thing coming here.¡±


    The bald man took out a pipe and started smoking. He looked once again at his old friend and kept going.


    ¡°Are you sure about this. To let that monster come inside your house. We might be ¡®allies¡¯ but that won¡¯t change a thing.¡±


    ¡°It was my daughters wish to invite the sons here. Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure to speak with the king himself.¡±


    ¡°You met Vesper! What was in your mind? He could kill your just for looking bad at him.¡±


    ¡°He is not that kind of ruler. When I met him¡­ I saw a happy father. I saw his family, his people¡­ The rumors about him can¡¯t be true.¡±


    ¡°So, what did he say?¡±


    ¡°We talked about the future¡­ He said that the time will soon come.¡±


    ¡°And that means what? He is dying ha ha!¡±


    He laughed and laughed until he saw the face of his friend.


    ¡°This is not good. If he really is in such a state a new king will be appointed. I might not be too fond of Vesper, but he was peaceful with us and left our territories untouched.¡±


    ¡°That is what worries me. He said only one of his sons is capable enough. I have yet to meet any of them.¡±


    ¡°Times are changing¡­¡±


    ¡°That they are¡­ They really are¡­¡±


    A few weeks passed and inside the mansion a banquet was prepared. The lord ruling over a large portion of land right next to Sillacet got ready to meet the sons and daughters of the King. He himself had three daughters and hoped that the two of them he held most dear might marry one of the sons.This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    The doors opened and three figures entered. The children of Vesper, Daghishat and Tarex.


    ¡°It is our pleasure to be invited here. I am the oldest son of the king, Daghishat. This one next to me is my little brother Tarex.¡±


    The people were disturbed as the two of them were fully dressed in armor. This could be taken as an offense in other cases, but who would dare to oppose the absolute ruler.


    The lord came to greet them and the banquet started. Everyone danced and ate to their heart¡¯s content .The two of them however stood more in the back and watched. The daughters of the lord came to meet them. They were tiny in comparison, but nonetheless treated with respect. As they exchanged pleasantries Tarex heard a song, it was a beautiful sound, but at the same time it felt so fragile.


    He looked around and he couldn¡¯t hear anyone around singing. He covered himself in darkness and merged with the shadows to look on the upper floor.


    There was a closed room. He got out of the shadows and tried to open the door. The song suddenly stopped. He was even more curious. Who was behind that door? He slipped back into the darkness and got under the door.


    Inside the room a girl was looking at the night sky. She was just waiting there, singing. He was so captivated by the fragile voice that he forgot he wasn¡¯t supposed to be here. Simply standing behind her listening.


    The girl was dressed all in black, with a veil covering her head. The long hair was beautiful and shiny and her eyes were green. Her skin was white as the snow and she was frail, so very frail.


    She took a short look into the window and saw Tarex behind her. For a moment she was scared, but mustered her courage to turn around.


    ¡°Who-¡­¡±


    Tarex did not let her finish her sentence and stared talking with her.


    ¡°Your voice, it is so beautiful, so sweet¡­ So¡­ Sad.¡±


    ¡°Thank you. May I ask who you are?¡±


    ¡°I am Tarex, the smallest son of the Nephilims and the future king.¡±


    ¡°Your highness¡­¡±


    She tried to get up and bow to him.


    ¡°There is no need. Please tell me your name.¡±


    ¡°My name is Calliope. I am the smallest daughter of the lord Argus. May I ask you a question your highness?¡±


    ¡°You can ask whatever you want from me.¡±


    ¡°Oh, but I can¡¯t. Tell me, why would one such as you come to me?¡±


    ¡°I heard a beautiful, so very beautiful song¡­ Yet¡­ It was so sad, so sad it could make the heavens cry. Please Calliope tell me, why are you so sad?¡±


    ¡°I am a sickly girl. My father took care of me for as long as he could. After I was born my mother died. He blamed me for her death. He called me a cursed child. Now I am not even allowed to leave this room.¡±


    ¡°Is that so¡­? Alright then come here.¡±


    She got closer to Tarex. He was like a titan trying to pick up a small flower. He got her up in his arms and told her¡­


    ¡°Be my wife Calliope. I shall let none harm you. I shall shatter the sadness in your heart and I will¡­ make you smile.¡±

 Where Memories Fade and Blood Flows

    ¡°Of course, she refused¡­ I was a mere stranger. I was just a moron trying to fill the agonizing emptiness. Ah¡­ I really was annoying now, wasn¡¯t I? Calliope¡­ I wanted to keep you close, I wanted that so much, but I failed you¡­ I failed everyone¡­ They accepted that I am such a fool, they loved you as much as me¡­ I¡¯m a fool, damned moronic fool¡­¡±


    ¡°Who are you talking about? Who did you fail? Who were they¡­?¡±


    ¡°They were¡­ They were my family¡­ They were¡­ I don¡¯t know anymore, everything is just pitch black, I want to remember their faces, their smiles¡­ I want it all back¡­ I want it! I want it! I WANT IT! I WANT IT!¡±


    He peered into the abyss surrounding him. A familiar figure, it looked just like him yet the armor was beautiful and polished. A jet black version of himself with a red mantle. It looked down at him.


    ¡°I pity you wretch. We had all we ever wanted and you shove it all away. You drove them away. You BETRAYED EVERYONE.¡±


    The figure kicked him to the ground. It looked at him as one would look at a mongrel.


    ¡°Traitor, I was no traitor how could you make me do such thing. You indulge in your desires, you gave in to your lust and anger, you defy all that I used to be. Of course, Calliope refused me, of course she would despise you. You killed everyone in your path, you said there was no other way¡­ I will crush you, I will emerge once more and make everything right.¡±


    ¡°You say it like it¡¯s all my fault. You were there as well, you could have forced me to stop, you just wanted to see what happens. We are both guilty my friend¡­ For we are one and the same.¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    ¡°I am nothing like you insect. I despise that we share the same mind, I despise you very existence, I hate you¡­ I hate you so much¡­¡±


    The figure began to cry and kept muttering how much he hates him.


    ¡°We hate ourselves, but in the end that is all we can do. We will set things straight¡­ Someday¡­¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I will, once you disappear¡­ Once you will recover these memories, I can finally come back.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Your mind is broken. You might remember this for now, but this is just a dream¡­ You will forget it when you wake up¡­ I will fade away once more¡­ But try to remember¡­ That demon is out there, you met him. He is the one who broke us. HE IS THE ONE THAT WILL PAY! Stop sulking around and get to work."


    Darkness engulfed the both of them. Only the abyss remains, a deep pit of sorrow and regret, but even in the depths of such an abyss there is a ray of light. Without darkness there would be no light, without evil there wouldn¡¯t be any good¡­


    The rivers of blood flow¡­ It calls to them, the red plague¡­ Turning water into blood, desecrating any life that it touches. The people affected by this atrocity will drink the blood to satisfy themselves. It calls demons from other planes of existence, it opens gates to a world where not even death will save you.


    For thousands of years a city was affected by this plague and nobody noticed. The King calls this his home, Sanguinem Lapis.


    In this city blood is the currency. They create blood stones for  trade. What would they trade? Of course... slaves, weapons, armors even demons. The plague itself gave them power to enslave lower demons, even higher ones.


    The city was protected by a barrier which kept unwanted attention at bay¡­ Now there is no barrier and the city, left open, unprepared for what is to come. They are strong for the many years let them gather a high number of people, demons and weapons. Will that strength suffice?


    The Order is strong, they own armies, weapons, equipment¡­ All meaningless, the true power they wield is a special regiment¡­ The Hounds of War.


    They used to be the elite of the Nephilim armies, with the death of the king Vesper and the betrayal of Tarex they serve the Acolytes, until the day the true king returns.


    Let the feast begin!

 Sanguinem Lapis I

    Far beyond the elven capital there is a city. In mountains high enough to pierce the very sky, a city built in them. Throughout years and years, the mountains were transformed into a great masterpiece gifted to a certain count.


    As time passed the counts wife fell ill¡­ He tried all he could, he did all he could and nothing would work.


    In the end a demon came to him and offered a deal that couldn¡¯t be refused. A contract written in blood. Nobody would even look at such a thing¡­ Only him.


    ¡°Accept my gift count, accept it and your wife will be saved, your city will know eternal glory and prosperity. All I want from you is life.¡±


    He did not hesitate, he did not ask the demon who he was¡­ He could save his wife which was more than he could wish for. The wretched fiend gifted the fortress the red plague. The rivers flowing from the mountain became blood, the people were infected by the disease and began killing each other. They ate one another, they drank the blood of each and every animal they had. A thirst that could not be quenched. Of course, his wife was saved¡­ Unaffected by the plague. He locked her in the castle and let none see her.


    Upon seeing the vile creatures, the count could not bare it anymore. He used all his might to set order into the chaotic city. In time everything transformed, the city became a fortress, a home for the horrors of darkness. Demons bowed to the count, he created two hundred pillars to surround the land and seal it away from the eyes of mortals.


    Search parties were sent to catch living beings and extract their blood. Statues of gargoyles watched over every entrance in the city. From their eyes blood was dripping, like they were crying. The pillars were fueled by demonic energy, space and time stopped being relevant in this place. The sky turned red and atop of it all one being¡­ Severo and his demon aide, which he ever only knew as the deal maker.


    The barrier failed. The pillars couldn¡¯t keep up anymore with the needs of the fortress and now everyone could see it. A pure manifestation of evil¡­ Although who can say what truly is evil?


    The order sent forth Kana, the reaping scout. She was considered to be on par with a harbinger. Along her two hounds thirsty for battle. From a hill they could see the wicked land, the very terrain was tainted by the plague¡­ To remedy such an abomination, they would have to burn the entire place.


    ¡°Hounds, I shall move forward. I want one of you to go to the eastern entrance. The other one return to the council, tell them we need a purifier regiment. Ask for additional hounds as well, who knows what will we fight in there?¡±


    They moved as planned. Kana along with the hound went forward. She ran through the forest and reached to a tall and sturdy tree. She climbed and checked around. A patrol of higher demons.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    ¡®What are they doing?¡¯


    She took a spyglass from her utility bag and looked. It wasn¡¯t a patrol, it was a transport. They kept humans in leash dragging them towards the city. Two of them dead and the other three barely walking.


    ¡®Even if I want to help them, I can¡¯t fight head on with demons. Not with such strong demons¡­ If only he was here. Ah, this is no time to think about that.¡¯


    Fortunately, she had a desolator crossbow. Although she never actually used one, but the legends say it¡¯s a weapon that pierces through reality and a single bolt is enough to bring down even the strongest of creatures. To think such armament was mass produced by the Nephilims.


    She prepared the arrow, slowly taking aim¡­ She shot. The bolt flew through the leaves right into the demon¡¯s head. The body fell, there was no blood spilt, there were no marks left although she was sure she hit him.


    She prepared another bolt. The other demons were on guard. They tried to look around to find the person who killed their comrade. Kana was a masterful scout, if she wanted none could find her. Although she lacks in brute strength her wits, makes up for it.


    Another bolt flew, no sound, no traces left. The last demon started to panic. He hid behind a tree and tried to pinpoint her location.


    Kana was curious, if the crossbow left no traces would that mean the arrows are not physical once shot? It befuddled her. She gave it a try and shot straight through the tree. The last demon collapsed.


    She came down from the tree and cut the prisoners free.


    Something was not right. Kana took a glance at the demons. They were not moving, whatever spark of life they had¡­ It was now gone.


    The nearby river started to boil. The stench was horrendous. From it, hands emerged, they made out of the bloody water. It grasped the corpses and took them away.


    ¡°I guess there is more to this place.¡±


    ¡®Demons¡­ We fought only a few of them throughout the years. Three of them only taking in the goods¡­ Good I told him to come with more hounds as well. Who knows what awaits us?¡±


    ? ? ?


    ¡°Tell me Severo, is there a moment you regret our deal?¡±


    ¡°Not for once, my love lives because of you, is there truly something I should regret? I highly doubt it.¡±


    ¡°You gave away your life force, as well as everyone here.¡±


    ¡°As I said, I have no regrets.¡±


    ¡°What if your wife is dead? It has been a long time, you don¡¯t even know it yourself. You are scared to go and check on her. She never came here to visit you.¡±


    The count looked at the demon. He was amused by that remark.


    ¡°I gave her a ring with a soul stone. Even if her body fails her, she will be forever alive.¡±


    ¡°What!? Your love, you gave her a soul stone, you trapped her soul forever between life and death. She can¡¯t reach the heavens nor will she fall into the pits of hell¡­ You are worse than a demon, at least we take you to your eternal damnation.¡±


    The count stood up and caught the demon by his neck.


    ¡°I never was a good person. I will not change, this land itself was given to me and me alone. I only ever loved one person and I will gladly do anything to save her, even a deal with one such as you. Begone foul fiend and leave me alone for now. I need time to prepare.¡±


    ¡°You felt it as well¡­¡±


    ¡°Those horrible weapons, those damned desolators¡­ I hoped the Nephilims will fade away after your friend got his claws into them¡­ No matter, they will not leave this place alive.¡±


    ¡°Then I will take my leave. The Balrog pits are nearly ready as well.¡±


    ¡°Lets see what awaits us.¡±

 Special: The Fallen

    Once there was nothing and from the nothingness the universe appeared. Worlds took shape, yet only this one was truly blessed by God.


    All kind of beings were made, from monsters to humans, they were all equal once. They were equal for the guardians looked over the world.


    The Nephilims, the guardians made to defend life¡­ To keep a balance, to be judges¡­ They supervised all and made sure all beings would live in harmony.


    Vesper the first king, he was given power over everything. He had the power to end worlds, to end evil yet he did not. As a guardian he had to keep the balance, as tempting as the power was.


    For thousands of years he protected what he had to, he took the Nephilims into a remote place and created the Hushed Weald and the city of Silacet. He surrounded the forest with mountains and made sure they could live in peace. He built the city from marble and made statues to oversee it.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    He knew demons will try to mess with him yet his arrogance put everything to an end. His youngest son had his mind slowly broken by the demon. Nearly all of his children fell to the demon¡¯s tricks. His son which was born so different from all of his brothers and sisters. An easy target, slowly he fell into madness even more so than the others.


    Vesper tried to stop him, but he couldn¡¯t kill his son, he loved them too much. He was his precious little boy, he couldn¡¯t even think about it, but Tarex¡­


    He killed many Nephilims, he went outside the Weald and started to destroy cities, villages¡­ He killed innocent people, kids and monsters alike. It was like a fire that couldn¡¯t be extinguished.


    Vesper made his choice, the power that was given to him by God, he will give it to Tarex in an attempt to bring him back. It helped a little for Tarex was on his knees, with his father dead at his feet. He was angry, so angry at himself for letting something like this happen. He returned to the city¡­ Empty, devoid of any life¡­ He sat in his father¡¯s throne and closed his eyes.


    The only thing he truly remembers is the pain in his heart for what he had done.


    ¡°What is this, WHOAAA!¡±


    And with such simple words the King awakened.

 Sanguinem Lapis: Death and Life

    A storm, wild winds howling and their echoes roared throughout the mountain fortress. Dark clouds surrounded the area and red lighting kept striking the two hundred pillars.


    ¡°Count, they are here¡­ With elven reinforcements coming soon.¡±


    ¡°The elves are no problem, the Nephilims played too much with their existence, they are too weak.¡±


    ¡°You might already know, but the ones attacking are not the Nephilims.¡±


    ¡°I know, if Vesper were to lead them¡­ My head might have been rolling already. It matters not who they are, this is my home and they will not leave this place alive.¡±


    He rose from his throne, Severo threw a quick glance around.


    ¡°Ah, I want to see what we are dealing with.¡±


    He proceeded towards the exit. As he opened the gates, he could see at the bottom of the mountain a great army.


    ¡°Numbers alone won¡¯t save you puny humans. I gave my life away, I gave too much lives away to let it all end here. Dealer¡­ Open the pits, let the demons out, I will instruct the guards to send the people and the goods to a safe place.¡±


    ¡°Hah, might as well. I¡¯ll summon one of my friends as well, the Balrog king shall aid you.¡±


    At the bottom of the mountain the Acolytes set up ballistae and siege towers. The purifier regiment was charging up their powers. Five hound squads were ready to go in at any given moment.


    ¡°Kana, take a hound squad and be ready. When I give the order, the siege will commence. One of the ballistae will shoot bolts deep into the walls to make a stair for you. Make sure you are unseen. Do not enter through the main gates as you go up, the gargoyles are some powerful golems, we will take them down as we advance.¡±


    ¡°Understood commander.¡±


    She met up with one of the hound squads and prepared her weapons.


    ¡°Purifiers, is everything charged up?¡±


    ¡°Yes commander.¡±


    ¡°FIRE!¡±


    As the commander gave their order the soldiers began the assault. The knights advanced towards the city with the shields up. The siege towers stared moving along with them. The purifiers released their energy into giant fireballs and bombed the city. Half of them walked slowly behind the knights.


    The ballistae stared shooting the walls down. As soon as a few bolts were shot properly Kana¡¯s squad moved first followed by the rest of the hounds.


    The gargoyles at the entrance began to move. The giant statues were as big as the siege towers and moved toward the enemy army.


    Demons on the walls began shooting arrows and blood nails towards them.


    The knights were equipped with special armor and shields thus the nails were ineffective, but arrows still hit some of their weak spots.


    A squad of hounds came from Kana¡¯s side and climbed up the Gargoyles. They chipped one slowly, cutting its limbs. One of them fell, but the other one was further ahead.


    It crushed hundreds of soldiers under his feet, and killed just as much with its claws. The blood dripping from his eyes fell on others and burned them alive.


    The hounds quickly headed towards the other giant.


    Kana and her squad quickly moved over the tower inside the city. Some demons observed them and followed. They moved fast towards the second level of the fortress. It was a second wall with the same gargoyles guarding it.


    They went upon a taller building. Kana took out her spyglass and checked the rest of the levels as well.


    ¡°There are about¡­ twenty-six levels. All the entrances guarded by those damned golems. Fourth squad, I want one of you to go and ask for reinforcements from the north ward. They are the closest and have most of the manpower. It would take too long for the south to come.¡±


    One of the hounds nodded and followed her orders.


    ¡°Alright all we can do for now is destroy the supplies on this level. I saw multiple pits from where demons keep emerging, we will tear them apart. Second and third squad clear the walls. The first and fourth will help me stop their reinforcements.¡±


    Everyone moved on. The two squads on the walls quickly got to work. They cut through the demons with ease. Some of them had enough lifeforce to get back together and keep fighting, but were quickly sliced back.


    ¡°I see these monsters are as annoying as they used to. They kill demons like it¡¯s nothing, their armor can¡¯t be even scratched. Dealer, we might be in trouble if they will keep pressing us.¡±This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    ¡°Rest assured count, even if they reach this level you are more than enough to end them all. In the worst case you will give me your soul to deal with them.¡±


    ¡°I gave you my life, not my soul¡­ That you will never have, it belongs to my love and only to her.¡±


    ¡°Then I hope you are prepared to see her in the afterlife, oh wait¡­ Even if her soul will pass on someday, you will rot in hell with the rest of us. Isn¡¯t that sweet.¡±


    The sound of explosions echoed through the city. Rushing to the first wall hordes of demons kept emerging from their pits. Suddenly they stopped.


    ¡°What is this¡­ What the actual fuck is happening AGAIN!¡±


    ¡°Shut up Cyrillus. The damn blood elves sold us, if only I could use my powers.¡±


    ¡°With all due respects Empress, no, Aurelie as you are just a slave like me right now, maybe we can escape! Let¡¯s try to work together, find Roisin and get out of here.¡±


    ¡°How do you even plan to do that?¡±


    ¡°I stole the key, for the cage and for your handcuffs.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier you blockhead.¡±


    A giant explosion razed half of the building and part of their cage. They looked once more at the open space with big eyes. The city was under siege. Demons were burned and pits destroyed. Someone came towards them.


    ¡°Here we were wondering where the empress could have fled. The tainted kind seems to have lost you.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°It means, we are your allies now. Sergeant, please escort Aurelie outside the city.¡±


    ¡°What about me, come on Aurelie!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t know this man.¡±


    ¡°WHY!?!?!¡±


    ¡°Understood, take him as well. Before that, do you know where they keep the other slaves?¡±


    ¡°Uhm, what is your name again masked lady?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m called Kana.¡±


    ¡°Alright Kana, I am Cyrillus and we have no fucking idea.¡±


    ¡°I would like you to watch your tongue. Reinforcements will arrive in about a month, you can get back with the injured once they come. Alright hounds we move onwards, take some smoke bombs to signal the purifiers we might just get rid easier of those golems¡­ What is that?!¡±


    The battle stopped for a moment. A dark howl froze everyone in place.


    ? ? ?


    ¡°Kojirou¡­ What is the meaning of this?¡±


    Tarex was shackled on his knees in front of Kojirou, Tanith and Nephogram.


    ¡°Ah the almighty Tarex, I haven¡¯t seen you in quite a while¡­ Rest assured your brother is safe¡­Hihihih.¡±


    ¡°Ah dear, dear Tarex I wonder how you will proceed now. You won¡¯t. Kojirou please cut his head off.¡±


    He moved towards the king and unsheathed his sword.


    ¡°It came to this¡­ My dear, dear Kojirou, make it fast.¡±


    ¡°There is nothing else you want to say? You don¡¯t feel betrayed!? You don¡¯t want to kill me?! I WILL¡­ kill you¡­¡±


    ¡°I know that very well, as well as your reason. Stop trembling and hold your sword thight.¡±


    ¡°Then¡­ Is this the end for you?¡±


    ¡°Release me from my misery¡­ If it¡¯s by your hand. I will gladly accept it.¡±


    Kojirou held back for a moment. He did hesitate, he was unsure of what to do. The person in front of him was kind enough to forgive him just like that¡­ He grasped his sword with two hands and cut the kings head off.


    ¡°I guess that is the end of that.¡±


    ¡°Indeed Nephogram that is the end of him. You held your end of the bargain.¡±


    ¡°Now you two must do what I asked you to.¡±


    For a second everyone froze in place. The headless body got up. It grasped the helmet and showed it was empty.


    ¡°Tsk, tsk, tsk¡­. It is indeed my end in this era. You forgot I¡¯m cursed haven¡¯t you.¡±


    He turned his back at them and looked to the horizon. He could see his city, his home as he once did. He could finally see what he actually wanted.


    ¡°You know Kojirou, even now I will consider you my friend¡­ I am not a judge¡­ My mind was corrupted by that miserable demon next to you since I was very young. I never managed to gather my thoughts. I never managed to talk about some things.¡±


    He held the helmet, like it was his heart, it was one of the most precious things he had left. Slowly he sat down with the helmet on his legs.


    ¡°I can see fields of grain¡­. That golden color¡­ A light so beautiful, yet so far away¡­ I can see the past, the creation¡­ I can see my father¡­ my mother¡­my siblings I can finally see them¡­ Of course I can¡¯t, After all I am not allowed to be happy¡­ Kojirou¡­ We will not meet for a very long time, but do me a favor. If the white coffin ever opens, take care of them will you? Be kind to them¡­ Show them a modest life. It was something I always wanted to give them, yet I never could. My end is here for the next hundred years, maybe a thousand, millenia? I¡­¡±


    He stopped moving. A black mass of energy started to emerge from him. It was a howl that pierced the skies, a howl that echoed through the world.


    Everyone was silent, Kojirou didn¡¯t know what to do about everything he heard. He will keep his promise, the least he could do after his betrayal.


    Nephogram knew his hold on Tarex would never last forever and what was to come would be much worse than he could think.


    As for Tanith, it wasn¡¯t the first time she saw Tarex being killed in such a manner, but this time it was the first time she felt something odd about it.


    ¡°Keep your promise, don¡¯t make me regret my decision.¡±


    ¡°Of course, Kojirou, you will have your revenge and take back the East. Wasn¡¯t that our deal? Ah poor Tarex, I will await you, this book of sorrow I wrote for you, it won¡¯t end soon. You can take a break for now, but I will not stop¡­ YOU SIMPLY BRING ME TOO MUCH JOY!¡±


    ¡°Nephogram, everything falls in place. Just as you said.¡±


    ¡°Ah the expedition to end Jackal, Cory joined the Acolytes and destroyed every last raider. Your children invaded the West and put an end to the order¡­ Sanguinem Lapis, the city will not fall, for there are no more reinforcements for them. The elves are under my thumb and sold all the humans they captured to the demons. All that is left is the East and Kojirou will end them all as well. Let us march towards them.¡±


    ¡°The humans will fall and the monsters can finally take over, our time has finally come to be the rulers.¡±


    That was their plan, but they underestimated the humans. The expedition sent after jackal turned into an alliance and Cory indeed joined them. Their forces united and returned in the West and exterminated every single monster with the order remaining intact. Sanguinem lapis did not fall, but the soldiers managed to return safe and seal the damned city back.


    With the return of Aurelie the Acolytes agreed they were in the wrong, but she did not execute any of them, not only that but she took advantage of the new troops and went towards Sillacet. With heavy casualties she managed to secure it¡­ Only the East fell down into chaos, most of the people were killed and their emperor ended up at the mercy of Kojirou.


    ¡°Yes, it seems this is the end of the second chapter. Kojirou, sing here.¡±


    As he signed in the book his flesh started to melt and his armor turned black. Only his skeleton remained covered in blue fire. He was still alive, but this was the price he paid for the help of Nephogram and Tanith.


    ¡°Where are you going now dear Kojirou?¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t say it like that, also I have a promise to keep¡­ Your plans will fail Nep, so will you.¡±

 A new sunrise

    ¡°It was quite a while wasn¡¯t it old friend¡­ Of course you didn¡¯t return, I began counting the years at one point¡­ Needless to say it was all in vain. At first it was a cute little thing I thought I could do to honor our friendship, but I lost it. I wanted to DO SOMETHING, but I am useless am I not? I made a deal with the same demon that corrupted you, I took my revenge and what have I been left with? Nothing, my family was gone and I could at least try to accept, but my damn thirst for his blood, to make him FEEL¡­ Pointless, pointless I say.¡±


    He stood next to his armor. In front of Kojirou were only the ruins of Sillacet, bugs crawling all over the place¡­ The magical silence, the barrier that used to hold everyone out was done for. It was just a simple ruin, the archives destroyed, the corpses of soldiers were eaten by necrophages and the bones were all dust now. The city itself wasn¡¯t even on the surface anymore, buried deep under who knows what place on the earth.


    ¡°A family, you did everything for yours as well, or at least you tried to. As insane and depressive as you were, I felt as though I met a man that understood me, that I could trust and share my worries¡­ Why haven¡¯t I done it? Who knows¡­ Maybe I¡¯m simply a coward, in the end people will always hate those who raise their swords, hell even I hate them¡­ I hate me. Ah, no need to sulk anymore, I know you used to light candles in that old church, for the dead you offered a prayer. This is all I can do for now.¡±


    He took a candle out of a bag he brought with him. Kojirou caught it with his boney fingers and lit it with his blue flames.


    ¡°I did it with my own hands, gave away my humanity. I¡¯m a spooky skeleton now hehe, a spooky flaming skeleton. At least I can always light a candle for you no? No¡­ I can¡¯t, I didn¡¯t to be more precise. Listen here, I found that coffin, but with all those demons and monsters scheming I won¡¯t open it. It won¡¯t be safe. If you can hear me¡­ I will take care of everything.¡±


    He took his bag, his swords and left slowly making his way outside.


    ¡®Imagine I was here a eternity ago. They say it¡¯s the year 1635¡­ People sure love to believe whatever they want. Although I am impressed¡­. These muskets are interesting. They call themselves samurai, some are indeed honorable people, you could call them master swordsmen, in human standards¡­ There are also those who simply love the power they have, they forget where they started. Scum¡­¡¯


    As he was thinking he kept walking in the dark. Due to his cursed appearance people called him a ghost, they thought he was an old warrior seeking revenge on those who killed him.


    As Kojirou roamed the night two kids bumped into him. He crouched to take a better look at them. There was a girl and a boy, probably siblings, but he didn¡¯t ask.


    ¡°Kids¡­ Don¡¯t roam alone at night, unless you are dead already ahahaha!¡±


    They were shacking uncontrollably.


    ¡°¡­W-Will¡­ Will you let us go!?¡±


    He gazed deeply at them.


    ¡°Kids, where are your parents?¡±


    ¡°T-They¡­ They were killed by bandits¡­¡±


    ¡°I see, I¡¯m glad you didn¡¯t faint, most of the people do when they see me. Look, where do you want to go? I can escort you¡­ For free, no deals or anything.¡±


    The boy hesitated for a moment, but he asked anyway.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    ¡°Why would you do that?¡±


    ¡°A long, very long time ago, I had a kid that looked just like you, long black hair. He was quite a rascal¡­ He even had a younger sister.¡±


    ¡°What¡­ What happened to them?¡±


    ¡°An old how would you call him now ¡®Shogun¡¯, yeah an old Shogun killed them.¡±


    ¡°Did you do something to upset him?¡±


    ¡°I will tell you on the road. Now where would a safe place be for two kids¡­? I guess nowhere.¡±


    The kids were waiting for him to decide what to do. It was annoying as such a scary creature seemed so dumb.


    ¡°I will take you North, there should be a village suitable for the two of ya. Stay as far as you can from the Shimabara Domain, it will come to a bloody war.¡±


    ¡°You won¡¯t go there?¡±


    ¡°I have no more reason to fight, my only reason to live now is to fulfil my promise to a friend.¡±


    ¡°Can we stay with you then, you are scary, but you seem nice¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, affection, haven¡¯t got that in a while. It¡¯s no good to stay near me, only death and misery follows. I will outlive both of you and I don¡¯t want to cry¡­ again¡­¡±


    ¡°What if we lift the curse before!?¡±


    ¡°Ahaha! Oh you kids, saying the most absurd things, sure¡­ I will indulge your request for the time being, but don¡¯t expect any special treatment got it?¡±


    ¡°YES!¡±


    ¡®I am a fool for letting my emotions take the better of me, but I guess¡­ If it¡¯s only for a moment, I can be happy here, in my little world.¡¯


    They walked on foot through the country for a few days. The three would stop now and then to take a break and eat or hide from bandits. Kojirou refrained from taking a normal path thus walking through the forests, climbing the hills and only pausing their journey if the kids couldn¡¯t keep up anymore.


    ¡°If I remember correctly, we should be close to a village. The people there are nice¡­ even towards someone like me.¡±


    ¡°Mhm¡­¡±


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    He took a glance around for any hiding spots. There were none that wouldn¡¯t be obvious so he decided the best thing was to have the kids close to him.


    ¡°Alright listen here brats, stay close to me and if you think you see someone yell.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    They walked on for a bit and he saw the village set on fire. Kojirou told the kids to cover their eyes and hold on to his hand.


    He lived for so long that murder, death, war meant nothing for him, but Kojirou knew what something like this can do for normal people. It can shatter their will, it can traumatize them and sometimes even cloud the mind with thoughts of vengeance.


    The kids covered their eyes and tried to ignore whatever they were walking over. The stench of burned meat and bloody mist filled the air.


    The boy for better or for worse peeked out for a moment. He stopped, his sister as well and so did Kojirou.


    ¡°What is this¡­?¡±


    ¡°I told you to walk brat.¡±


    He was holding his tears and resumed walking. The kids barely hold up the need to puke. Soon they got out of the village, the air was clean and there were no corpses in sight.


    The boy started to vomit and cry.


    ¡°WHAT WAS THAT?¡±


    ¡°Kid, this is what happens due to human greed. I met monsters with more compassion, but then again I did worse things in my old days.¡±


    ¡°H-How can you just¡­ How can anyone just do that? I-I though a warrior must be honorable, that they fight for a greater cause¡­¡±


    ¡°Ahahah, good joke¡­ Warriors fight for themselves. I promised I will take care of you and so I shall, now answer me. Why didn¡¯t you keep you eyes closed?¡±


    ¡°Because¡­¡±


    ¡°No because, you did it indeed for the same reason any human descends into madness. Curiosity, you know this is sometimes the most dangerous thing that one might encounter in his lifetime. It will push you towards actions you wouldn¡¯t normally take. Ah¡­ To be young, dumb and curious¡­ To be honest here kids I am envious.¡±


    He gazed deeply at the burning village. He would have shed a tear if he could, but that wasn¡¯t the case anymore.


    ¡°The Tokugawa shogunate is rather feared, but with all this forced peace¡­ There will be rebellions, I must say that I¡¯m sorry for that poor daimyo in Shimabara. All those restrictions and a rise in ronins¡­ True peace huh. Ah, it matters not¡­ Kids we will go to a secret place, I will speak with some old buccaneers to keep a watch over you.¡±


    ¡°Ok¡­¡±


    ¡°I expected you to ask me why? Or who were they?¡±


    ¡°I will listen to you this time¡­¡±


    ¡°Alright, don¡¯t pout too much. Time to move, it¡¯s pretty far. Oh, what are your names?¡±


    ¡°I am Taishiro.¡±


    ¡°What is your name little one, why are you so silent?¡±


    ¡°She is scared of you, her name is Akiko.¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t force the two of you to talk, just listen to me until we arrive at our destination. Akiko, be a good girl after I leave and listen you your brother. Taishiro, you take good care of her and avoid war¡­ Fights in general, killing people will only make you suffer in the long run.¡±

 The Buccaneers

    As he walked through the forest, slowly the secret location came in sight. It was a port to which not many knew how to reach. Here was the meeting spot for a small group of pirates and mercenaries. Amongst the large groups only a few were aware about how to find the place without getting swallowed in a storm by the ocean.


    Their leader known as the Golden General was an old pirate, yet he was as strong and stubborn as they came¡­. And just as merciless. His hat had a black cloth which covered his face yet you could see his beard knots coming from under it. He wasn¡¯t extremely tall, nor was he well built, but in the stories, it¡¯s said he single handedly sank a commodore¡¯s ship. Sykes always had on his belt a cutlass and two flints, he also loved to keep his coat on the back.


    ¡°Golden General, it¡¯s been a while.¡±


    Most of the pirates glanced at Kojirou, then they went back to work, the kids were a bit confused as his appearance would put anyone on guard at the very least.


    ¡°Ah, if it ain¡¯t good ol¡¯ Kojirou, come ¡®ere and join me for a clap of thunder! Hmm, who are the lil rascals behind ye?¡±


    ¡°This is one of the reasons I came to talk with you. Help me take care of them.¡±


    ¡°Aye¡­ Do ye know we are pirates? Two little brats, what are we supposed to do with them? They wouldn¡¯t even sell for much, just look at ye¡­ Stinky and skinny, ye do look healthy, but even so not much I can win. Do ye really want to make ¡®em shark bait?¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t bring them here to sell or kill them, I want you to protect them.¡±


    ¡°Ahahahaha! You bilge sucking moron, why should we take care of some brats you found on the road?¡±


    ¡°Because I said so.¡±


    Sykes got up from his chair where he was drinking. He went to check the kids kneeling to take a better look.


    ¡°Look ¡®ere ya seadog, we¡¯ve been friends for a long time. I need something more to make it worth¡­¡±


    ¡°Two years from now, a rebellion in Shimabara. You can go and plunder there all you want. There are some bandits hiding close and might have quite some treasures for you and your crew. Now we have a deal, don¡¯t we?¡±


    ¡°Aye, a favor for a favor¡­ I¡¯ll make sure none of me mates will touch ¡®em¡­ But they must learn the ways of the ocean. I will not always be there for ¡®em so they will sail with us for better or for worse¡­ Although the lass ¡®ere may not be suited for this.¡±


    He took another look at her. She was tiny and had big eyes.


    ¡°Ah, me heart will melt¡­ I will get them to Tortuga, some friends might take care of them there. To be young and lively, those were the days.¡±


    ¡°As long as they will be safe. Taishiro, Akiko he is a trusted friend so listen to him. I have something to do in other places and we will probably not meet again so be careful.¡±


    Sykes observed the glow in Kojirou¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Oy, what do more do ye want?¡±


    ¡°I have some things to do in China.¡±


    ¡°Ah, one of me lads going there. I will tell him ye are comin¡¯ along.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Sykes.¡±


    ¡°Nay, we thank ye¡­ Without yer help we wouldn¡¯t have this beautiful place to plunder and retreat from the damned privateers. You would pester me for the rest of me days if I were to refuse, not much of a choice.¡±


    ¡°Ahah, it¡¯s only fair¡­¡±


    ¡°My arse is fair! I have a question though, what ye doin¡¯ in China?¡±


    ¡°I made a promise to a friend, someone is playing with forces greater than they understand. They believe that¡¯s their chance to become a god¡­ I am a keeper of balance, not by choice though. Ah, what can you do when you make a promise? The enemy is strong, stronger than me, but I have a gift from an interesting man to deal with that.¡±


    ¡°I ain¡¯t followin¡¯, but as long as ye¡¯re safe¡­ Oy, I ¡®ave to steel this little brat here. The lass is another story, she ain¡¯t cut for this¡­¡±Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    ¡°So you are going to take the boy alone.¡±


    ¡°Nay, this lass speaks their language. I may take advantage of that.¡±


    ¡°Ahaha, a translator, who would have taught? You realize she is but a child.¡±


    ¡°Listen ¡®ere, help me get a teacher or sumthin¡¯ for the lass. If you do¡­ I got info, if ye goin¡¯ to China better be prepared aye?¡±


    ¡°I shall listen, but getting a teacher¡­ Ah there is one person, although I have to snatch him. I¡¯ll return with the teacher in a day.¡±


    ¡°Hehehe! We are hearties ¡®till the end!¡±


    ¡°Ha! Hearties only if there is money in it.¡±


    ¡°I ¡®ave me crew to take care, look at these scurvy dogs, we¡¯ve been through thick and thin, not even Davy Jones can stop us!¡±


    Sykes changed his tone, his voice got much more threatening.


    ¡°Shall I not provide for me family?¡±


    Bigger flames emerged from Kojirou. He caught the pirate from his neck.


    ¡°Listen to me ¡®Golden General¡¯ you can say we are ¡®hearties¡¯ and I am happy with that, BUT, don¡¯t misunderstand where you stand, I have respect for you as you are a man who keeps his words. I have respect for you because you love your family, but remember why you stand here! Have I not more than paid for everything? You dare bite the hand that feeds you?¡±


    ¡°Aye, I dare, for ye don¡¯t know what happens in the world.¡±


    Kojirou put him down, but didn¡¯t loose his grip.


    ¡°Listen ¡®ere Kojirou, I love ye as a brother. Nay, I love ye as a father, ye took this little rascal from the streets of London and helped him live. Ye did more than me parents would have ever done. Somethin¡¯ is wrong, they have a bounty on yer ¡®ead. I destroyed five privateer ships to reach the passage you made for us. They know about ye and yer ways, they want ye and I want to help!¡±


    He slapped Kojirou¡¯s boney hand aside.


    ¡°I won¡¯t ever sell me family, not like they did to me, I beg ye don¡¯t go to China, stay with us. We can drink and party, we can have so much fun!¡±


    ¡°Stand tall Sykes, be mighty and take all you can from this world. I was never a good person and it was bound to happen, consider this my last request take care of those children as they were your own¡­ I never managed to save mine, I never managed to be a true father so you don¡¯t understand how much it means for me, to be called one¡­ I shall leave for China in three days, the teacher will be here tomorrow, be safe...¡±


    ¡°Aye¡­ Argh, what am I even doin¡¯, Taishiro!¡±


    Sykes waved his hand at the kid. He approached the pirate slowly.


    ¡°Tell this lil brat to follow me. Today will be the first lesson.¡±


    ¡°Follow him.¡±


    The boy just gave him a nod and left along with Sykes. They walked deep into the forest until the pirate found some traces of the bandits.


    He kept walking ahead along with the boy until they found a small camp.


    ¡®Hmm, about a dozen¡­ Nothin¡¯ I can¡¯t handle.¡¯


    He walked into the camp like nothing was wrong and sat next to one of the bandits. They were drinking and enjoying themselves after stealing from the village, killing everyone and burning their homes. The bandits captured few women which were tied and held into a tent.


    Sykes took a seat on a wooden chair next to one of the bandits. He stole a bottle from his hand and drank.


    When the bandits saw him it was already too late, with one hand he kept the bottle to his mouth and with the other blew the bandits brains out with the flint.


    ¡°Ahah, ye bastards are afraid of me?¡±


    They all got whatever they found near, swords or planks and tried to jump Sykes.


    He dodged the first attack and cut someone¡¯s belly. With a few swift strikes he parried the next attacks. All while drinking from the bottle.


    ¡°Pff, ye need more than that. Come on, HIT ME!¡±


    They kept attacking him, but the General just kept on blocking and parrying their attacks.


    A few slashes and he cut everyone down. Every slash was meant to incapacitate them. In the end they were all alive on the ground screaming from their injuries.


    ¡°Taishiro!¡±


    The boy came from the woods. He got scared when he saw him simply walking into the enemy territory, but now he was confused as to why he called him.


    The pirate threw his cutlass at the boy¡¯s feet.


    ¡°Kill ¡®em!¡±


    He just stood there, Taishiro didn¡¯t understand what the pirate wanted.


    Sykes came to the boy and put the sword in his hand.


    He guided the boy¡¯s hand into one of their guts.


    At that moment Taishiro started to shake. His feet nearly gave up. The boy looked again at the pirate which just went back on the chair and opened another bottle.


    ¡°Brat, ye may not understand me words, but we ain¡¯t goin¡¯ anywhere ¡®till they die.¡±


    Right then, he felt like he understood the man. He either killed the bandits or the pirate wouldn¡¯t help him or his sister, thus he proceeded to put an end to the bandits.


    He looked them in the eye while killing them. One got up and tried to attack the boy, but Sykes quickly got his hand on the other flint and shot him between the eyes. Taishiro walked from one bandit to another sticking the cutlass into their guts, he was but a child yet he had to do this. It was a world where he either killed or was killed.


    ¡°I like that ye steeled yerself fast, good, ye may protect yer sister. Be prepared brat, for he who wields a sword must be prepared to meet lady death as well. Ah, nay, a pirate must dance with her every day. Welcome to me family ye little shit.¡±


    For a pirate was rather strange to refer to a woman as a lady, but something made Sykes respect lady death as he calls her or as other pirates call her, Wench of the End Times.


    A ray of hope flashed through Taishiro¡¯s eyes, but once again it faded. The pirate found the women and didn¡¯t free them. Instead he just tightened the ropes and got them to follow him.


    The boy tried to jump and save them, but Sykes just slapped him aside.


    ¡°Ye scurvy dog, don¡¯t misunderstand pirates are not good people. The one who got ye here, he knows very well what we do. This miserable life, this is the way a pirate lives, we kill innocents, we plunder everywhere we go, we rape, we kill and we steal again and again. Now this is yer life too.¡±


    Taishiro slowly began to understand him more and more, he might not know the words, but he saw. The boy saw the joy and sadness in Sykes, he saw a man who had nothing and wanted everything and thus he swore to himself.


    ¡°I will neve be one of them!¡±

 Dragon of the East

    Three weeks passed, the group of pirates took Kojirou to China and left as this was the turf of some unpleasant acquaintances of Sykes.


    He covered himself with a long coat to hide his unsightly appearance and wore a takuhatsugasa. This way even if he looked strange compared to most travelers the people would see him just like that, a traveler.


    Kojirou knew a group of Manchus which helped him come into the country without many problems. After Huangtaiji proclaimed himself the emperor of the Qing dynasty his friends suddenly had much more influence, yet that only extended to the normal world.


    This was a rather turbulent era in China with the new dynasty just proclaimed and their war effort to conquer the Ming people everywhere felt uneasy and strange especially towards travelers. Mercenaries, thieves and pirates were a common sight during these times with many other preparations made as well, for the invasion of Joseon Korea.


    ¡°These are, indeed turbulent times¡­¡±


    ¡°Is there a problem?¡±


    ¡°Just talking to myself.¡±


    Kojirou was in the company of a few individuals who were leading him to Beijing. They were on horseback on a muddy road. The winter was still far, yet all he could think of was snow, a field full of snow where he could rest.


    ¡°We will take a break.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Do as you wish.¡±


    They made a small campfire and unpacked some provisions.


    ¡°We will arrive in Beijing in a few days. Everything was prepared, all the information should be there. If you encounter any sort of problems don¡¯t hesitate to inform us.¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    One of the people traveling with them was new and did not know about Kojirou¡¯s identity. He knew the man was a trouble solver, some sort of mercenary for odd or near to impossible jobs.


    He took a glance and saw the skull under the hat.


    ¡°W-W-W-What is that?!¡±


    ¡°Calm down kid. He is new so don¡¯t mind him.¡±


    ¡°Is that so¡­?¡±


    The man crawled behind his senior¡¯s back.


    ¡°Boy, don¡¯t be scared. I am not here to kill any of you, stay focused for you never know when bandits might attack. Especially during times like this¡­¡±


    ¡°A-Alright!¡±


    ¡°Good, now if you are all finished eating your food let¡¯s keep going. Also, I know not everyone is born with nerves of steel, but you better get yourself on your feet or you won¡¯t live long.¡±


    And thus a few days passed and the group arrived in Beijing. The sky was filled with clouds, yet there were no signs of a storm coming.


    Kojirou walked the crowded streets and looked for a place to eat. Of course, he didn¡¯t need the food itself, but the place was where he would meet with someone which could prove difficult, but at the same time useful.


    He walked around until night came, only one place was still open and he went in. He sat at a table and glanced around. Pirates, the followers of Wang Zhi, once known as a pirate king, now a mere myth for most of the people. The ones which surrounded him were those who wished to continue his legacy.


    From all the men, one girl came to him. Her name was Jiao Qing. She had long wavy hair which was black, yet you could see in all that darkness a deep nuance of blue. Her eyes were as deep as the sea and her skin looked flawless.


    ¡°What is a fine man such as yourself doing here?¡±


    Kojirou didn¡¯t even look at the girl. He sat there in deep thought, then he pointed his hand towards the seat in front of him.


    The girl understood the gesture and took the seat.


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe we met.¡±


    ¡°Hehe, no we did not. My name is Jiao Qing, everyone calls me Jiao. Who might you be mister¡­?¡±


    ¡°There is no need for you to know. I am here in search of a dangerous man called Longwei.¡±


    ¡°Is that so¡­¡±


    The pirates slowly got closer to the two of them. They were on guard as everyone felt that man was dangerous, yet little did they know he was not even human.


    ¡°Mhm¡­ This man, he seeks a power which will bring unbalance. I¡¯m sure you might know something.¡±


    They got even closer. Trying to be ready in case he did anything strange.


    ¡°If you plan to ambush me at least try to make it less obvious.¡±


    ¡°So, you noticed them.¡±


    ¡°Jiao, I am no fool and I am not weak either. Listen here kids, I have a story for you.¡±If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.


    ¡°Kids¡­ It¡¯s been quite some time since someone called any of us kids. What is this story grandpa?¡±


    ¡°It is the story of a man who lost everything, betrayed everyone and gained nothing his entire damn life. I would say that it¡¯s very unwise to challenge such a person especially since he has nothing to lose, he might even be willing to share some secrets. I am sure some pirates like yourselves would be interested.¡±


    ¡°Alright men, stand down and let¡¯s see what he has to say first.¡±


    ¡°Ahaha, of course, pirates and treasures. Fine, fine listen to me¡­ When the fine hands of the creator shaped the world and gave it life, he bestowed upon it a guardian with a will of his own. He was given the power to end the world whenever he wished. He had power beyond anybody¡¯s imagination, but that was also a test for the guardian¡­ It was a test to see if he would ever do such a thing. Eventually he passed away without ever using it¡­ Would you know why is that?¡±


    ¡°Surprise us oh knowledgeable one¡­ Ahem, continue.¡±


    ¡°His son killed him and stole his powers. Just like his father his son was betrayed by a miserable man. Deep in the heart of the mountains it¡¯s said to be a giant sword and inside it you can see golden flames still burning. Do you want to know where that sword is?¡±


    ¡°The question is how would you know?¡±


    ¡°Hah, because I am a miserable man, you are free to believe whatever you want, but that fact will not¡­ change¡­ ever.¡±


    ¡°Let¡¯s say we believe your nonsense, where would these mountains be?¡±


    ¡°In the Tsardom of Russia. Deep within the mountains of Ural, there is a hidden cave. Through that cave, you can go deep down to the bottom of the abyss, once you reached the bottom you can see a tomb. Two giant gates with inscriptions in the language of old. If you can open that gate, there you can find the sword.¡±


    ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take it if you already know all of this? Also, what makes you think I would sail my men so far only for a sword?¡±


    ¡°A sword and mounds of gold.¡±


    ¡°Now that is more like it. Listen, you gave us the information for free so I expect there is a catch am I wrong? We could also kill you right here and go there.¡±


    ¡°Indeed, there is a catch. You can keep the gold, for all I care you can take the sword as well, but the path is dangerous. I suppose you want to know the dangers that await you as well, do you not?¡±


    ¡°I expected as much¡­ So, what would we find in that place?¡±


    ¡°Blood sucking vermin and many undead monsters. They are not your average undead so don¡¯t be fooled.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, yeah, we got it you are awesome and strong and knowledgeable¡­ Whatever, say boys are we going to that place?¡±


    The pirates looked at each other, they discussed the situation for a moment and came quickly with a decision.


    ¡°If I may Jiao¡­ I think is not worth it. All the gold in the world, but if such a place truly exists, we will probably die. I know a pirate lives for the loot, but we are simply not strong enough.¡±


    ¡°That is true, but with all that gold we could live the life we all wanted to.¡±


    ¡°I know captain, but do we risk everything or we play it safe? We know you are taking care of the orphans around, we don¡¯t mind, but I don¡¯t think you could abandon them. I doubt there is any among us willing to go and lose their life just to get some damned money, let¡¯s be real, we are pirates just in name.¡±


    ¡°We had dangerous jobs before! We were able to came out unscathed. I won¡¯t press any of you further, but I want to be sure nobody regrets this missed opportunity.¡±


    ¡°I really doubt we want to meet undead and blood sucking vermin am I right boys?¡±


    Everyone agreed with the one who spoke.


    ¡°Ok gramps we won¡¯t¡­ Where did he go?¡±


    Kojirou disappeared after he understood they were unwilling to cooperate. It was quite an unpleasant situation for him as well, for as strong as he might have been, the tomb was nearly impossible to clean alone. Although it was not for nothing, as he spread the information so treasure hunters, pirates or bandits will know such a place exists.


    ¡°Ahaha, it seems I did not fail my task entirely. Time to be on my way towards these sacred mountains.¡±


    Through the night he walked alone, a blue flame moving around jumping from tree tops to tree tops, from buildings to buildings. One could mistake it for a misguided spirit. Thus, in just two days he reached T¨¤i Sh¨¡n, the east mountain.


    As Kojirou reached at its base, he looked around. It was a beautiful path, the scenery and the lack of people made him feel comfortable.


    ¡°If only I could walk like this for eternity.¡±


    He walked slowly towards the mountain top and as he arrived, he saw the world before him. At the top he saw everything below, the vastness of the world. All his life, he simply followed others or their wishes, all he had in his mind were thoughts of revenge. Kojirou never stood for one moment anywhere to just contemplate what is his true purpose or what he truly wants.


    Indeed, he made a promise, but would his friend truly wish to put all the weight and responsibility on his shoulders. He never thought about it. For the first time he felt free.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry Tarex, it seems I might never fulfil that promise in its entirety. This time, just this time I will do it and¡­ I will retire, the new generation will have problems just like we did. Isn¡¯t that right? Making excuses for myself¡­ I am tired friend¡­ I¡¯m so tired.¡±


    From behind him a man came. He looked at Kojirou, standing on the ledge overlooking the land. He saw a man in deep thought and so he stood behind. The man waited for him to turn around, yet that moment felt like it would never come.


    ¡°Greetings, may I know who might you be?¡±


    ¡°It matters not who I am, tell me¡­ Why do you want power?¡±


    ¡°Oho..?¡±


    ¡°I know your name is Longwei, some sort of cultivator, a person who want to attain great power, but tell me why do you want it?¡±


    ¡°I believe everyone wants power, but not everyone is ready for it. To reach the status of god is what many mortals want, it is a dream I have as well.¡±


    Kojirou started laughing hysterically.


    ¡°Excuse me, but what do you know about god? Were you there when he made this very land where you stay, were you there when he created everyone and gave them their free will? Were you there when we betrayed him?¡±


    ¡°It seems there is more to your story than I thought at first¡­¡±


    ¡°Nay, I wasn¡¯t there so don¡¯t look so concerned, it was but a simple question. Longwei, as this is my last time before I retire, the power you seek, the power you have will upset the very balance of the world. You look like a gentle person, so I am giving you this chance, stop right now or face the wrath of the Blood Hound Kojirou!¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t really give me much of a choice, yet I can¡¯t feel any power from you, are you sure one like you could best me?¡±


    ¡°Please make your choice, if I die here¡­ I am more than happy, release my shackle for I have suffered just like him, I began to understand the pain and it is not pleasant.¡±


    ¡°For one such as me, seeking greater power is everything and so I am unable to accept this proposal. I believe I understand you more or less. A person such as yourself reminds me of the Abatina flower, fickle¡­ Why is that?¡±


    ¡°Fickle? Now that is a first, hehehEHEHEHE¡­ It really seems that we must return to the earth. At least my generation, they are wandering restless in the underground tombs across the land. Am¡­ t-tired? Yes¡­ Just let me, rest my eyes¡­¡±


    Longwei looked at him, he tried to put his hand on Kojirou¡¯s shoulder. At that moment, he saw him collapse. On the ground, a skeleton dressed like a samurai and his flames faded. Even if they still burned mere moments ago, Longwei knew, his spark disappeared long ago.


    ¡°It seems, you just went and died, you left me with all your burdens on my head. I don''t even know your name¡­ Sigh, alright let me try to fulfil your promise, this might be quite a fun journey. Maintining balance, hoho.¡±


    And so¡­ the legend of Longwei, the Dragon of the East began.

 Side Story: Nephogram

    In the midst of battle many heroes rise, but what about those who fall? What about those who are forgotten?


    ¡°Argh¡­ it hurts, it hurts!¡±


    The man got himself up, he tried to regain his composure.


    ¡°Alas, to fight side by side with the almighty Vesper, pain means nothing!¡±


    He kept on hanging on that trust towards his leader. He saw them moving forwards, faster and faster and then they left many behind, many injured and many who wished to keep on fighting were left behind to rot.


    The poor man tried to keep up, but he couldn¡¯t walk anymore. His body gave up and fell on the ground. In the pile of bodies, one man trying to hang on the last droplet of life he had.


    ¡°It hurts¡­ It¡­ hur¡­¡±


    A voice reached to him. It was a voice as sweet as honey, but the words were full of malice.


    ¡°Ahahahaha, you fool. They left you behind, they don¡¯t care. I can grant you power beyond anything you¡¯ve seen, what do you say?¡±


    ¡°No¡­ I am a proud servant¡­ I shall never fall prey to your foul kind.¡±


    ¡°Deep down I know you want to leave¡­ You want power, you want to stand side by side with him. You want to be his equal! Accept this, and I shall make your wish come true.¡±


    ¡°That silver tongue¡­ Even if I trained normally, would there be any chance?¡±


    He kept wondering if there was a reason for him to keep going. Did he truly have a purpose?


    ¡°Ahaha¡­HA AHAHAHAHAHA AHAH¡­¡±


    Laughter, it became a cry of despair and turned back into a laughter again and again and again. Nephogram slowly turned insane, all he had on his mind gone¡­ All that remained, wrath.


    ¡°SHOW ME!¡±


    ¡°So, you accept the power I offer you¡­ Wise choice!¡±


    ¡°NO! Show me, anarchy¡­ Show me despair and terror, show me the horrors of the world. Turn me into my true self! Change this weak body, change it, reshape me, my mind my being¡­. I GIVE IT TO YOU!¡±


    ¡°Ahahah, be it Humans or Nephilims¡­ You can surprise even demons with your insanity. AHHAHAH, fine Nephogram, I will take all.¡±


    Years passed and he fulfilled his wish. Chaos swallowed the world. His toy did everything he wanted and more. Nephogram, he didn¡¯t make a contract with the demon and gave him all he had, his entire being¡­ But the demon failed to understand what lurked inside the man¡­ Something more horrifying than a mere archdemon.


    The abyss that was his soul swallowed the fiend and Nephogram took away his powers. For thousands and thousands of years he stuffed himself with demons, imps and other kinds of foul beings.


    ¡°Hehe¡­ Vesper¡­ Am I doing a good job¡­? TALK YOU MISERABLE PIECE OF SHIT! I am surprised though¡­ You loved that one so much, you even let him kill you¡­ Such a shame. Or at least it would be if I didn¡¯t plan it, hehe.¡±


    Vesper was long gone, yet there he was at his resting place. For some reason even now, he couldn¡¯t let go of his past.


    ¡°You know¡­ I kept your legacy¡­ Your sons and daughters¡­. They are weak! They have no class, no skill, no talent¡­. Why did you choose him? I WAS YOUR COMRADE! Ah, it matters not, I will eat away all those demons and I will destroy all that you tried to maintain¡­ Oh, but don¡¯t misunderstand me. It just looks like a lot of¡­ FUN!¡±


    ? ? ?


    ¡°How much has it been¡­? One hundred forty thousand million-ish years¡­? I lost track¡­ The humans sure are persistent. I keep snuffing out that flame of theirs and they just crawl back from somewhere¡­ This just won¡¯t do! Why are they so annoyingly persistent? What gives them¡­ hope?¡±If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    Nephogram kept on wandering the world, looking for answers that would satisfy him, to no avail.


    Suddenly a boy bumped into him. He woke up from the deep thought he was in.


    ¡°I¡¯m very sorry sir¡­ I was in a hurry and didn¡¯t see you there.¡±


    ¡°Hmmm¡­ Boy, where were you going?¡±


    ¡°Oh, I was going to the church¡­ The priest is teaching me to read and write.¡±


    ¡°Ah, I see¡­ May I tag along?¡±


    ¡°Sure, but sir, you look like a man that knows already how to read and write¡­¡±


    ¡°Ah, but of course, I only wish to see the church.¡±


    ¡°Oh, my mistake, I am deeply sorry!¡±


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    The two went and met the priest. The atmosphere was calm and pleasant. It felt very cozy, almost like a home.


    ¡°Hmm¡­ Why do I feel uneasy? Tell me priest, why do you believe in god?¡±


    The priest was taken by surprise due to the sudden question. The man in front of him was tall, not as big as a knight, yet for some reason he seemed much more imposing.


    ¡°Ah hello my son. A new face in this old town¡­ To answer your question, you see I had a very sick wife and a daughter who was barely six years old. You could say god works in mysterious ways as one day she simply recovered. I had no money for medicine, I was barely making enough to get food for the two of them¡­ I nearly lost hope¡­ All I could do was pray and so I did. It was nothing short of a miracle. After that I gave my life to the church to serve god.¡±


    ¡°What would you do if I were to kill you and everyone you care about? Or what if god wouldn¡¯t have let your wife live? I suppose it would have been one less mouth to feed.¡±


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t do a thing.¡±


    For a moment Nephogram wavered. He didn¡¯t quite understand that phrase.


    ¡°You tell me, that you would just stand there idly¡­ Letting me kill everyone? You would just accept everything?¡±


    ¡°Son, punishment is not mine to give, nor could I stop someone like you. If god wills it, then I will comply.¡±


    ¡°Ah, that¡¯s how it is. You also seem to have seen something in me? Although, I can¡¯t see anything I like in you¡­¡±


    ¡°I feel a lot of resentment and anger from you, I will not pry son, but it is not good to keep all those emotions inside you.¡±


    For once he didn¡¯t know how to answer. He met a person that would not try to see reason in his words. His spiteful tongue wouldn¡¯t provoke him. Nephogram was at a loss. For the next few weeks, he stood in the town and helped the priest and the boy he was teaching. He watched over their families and tried to see what was so different about them.


    ¡°Son, could you go to our neighbors and call their priest here. My body is not what it used to be, if he can¡¯t come at least ask him how is everything going there¡­ I just want to know my old friend is doing well.¡±


    ¡°Mhm, I will return in a few days then.¡±


    Nephogram kept questioning himself about what was happening. He gave up at some point on killing everything and was now living with humans. He felt as though he betrayed his own convictions.


    Days later Nephogram was on his way back to the church, only to see the entire town up in flames.


    He rushed towards it to find the priest, his wife or his daughter, he rushed to find the poor boy who barely started to read properly.


    He ran and ran until a bloody image came upon his eyes.


    ¡°Ahahaha¡­. Haha¡­ha¡­ I guess I deserve this? I do deserve it, yes indeed¡­ Well this gives me a reason once again to kill every single one of them! ALL OF THEM!¡±


    He followed a trail left by the large band of brigands. They took some people as slaves and among the people was the priest¡¯s daughter.


    Nephogram unleashed his claws and transformed into a giant demon. Scales grew on his torso and limbs. His skin became blue and the clothes were torn to pieces as he became a monster. On his head five horns emerged similar to those of a goat. On his back, four dragon wings sprouted. He was not a demon, he was not a monster nor was he human... Nephogram, was an abomination.


    He jumped on the brigands and started his carnage. Slashing them apart, eating their flesh, tearing through each and all of them¡­ blood spewed everywhere. The demon was drenched in blood, he burned and ate regardless of who they were, without any concern he kept gulping everyone up. It was a feast¡­ that until he saw the priest¡¯s daughter.


    He killed and ate everyone except the girl. He hesitated, something kept him from slaughtering her.


    ¡°¡­Run¡­¡±


    He turned away and fell on his knees. He punched the ground again and again. He tried to restrain himself, there was no remorse in his soul for killing the humans. Although he had a problem, he couldn¡¯t control his gluttony in that state, it was frustrating for him.


    ¡°What am I even doing¡­ Living with the humans, have I really become so pathetic?¡±


    He got back up and looked at the child. His vision was clouded and the scent of blood was maddening.


    Nephogram jumped in front of the girl. He knew what was going to happen, he knew he couldn¡¯t control himself. Tears of blood fell from his eyes, he was in agony. For once he did not wish to kill a person in that state he was.


    The girl looked at him, it looked almost like she showed him pity. She opened her arms and closed her eyes.


    Something inside him trembled, it was an emotion he destroyed a long time ago and was now emerging. It wasn¡¯t right, he didn¡¯t wish to feel guilt.


    In that moment Nephogram grasped her with his mouth and bit her in half. He ate so many humans and demons across the years, but this time he wanted to puke. The taste was bitter and sour so much that he forced himself to swallow the girl¡¯s body. In his mind this was the least he could do for her.


    To eat the entire body, to not let anything go to waste¡­ It was all he could do at that point.


    ¡°At least you didn¡¯t have to suffer¡­ I hope¡­ It wasn¡¯t painful¡­ Ahahah¡­. WHY?!¡±


    He started crying, he gave everything away to pursue his fun, but now he felt sorrowful, guilty. He pulled off his masterwork, killing Vesper, making his own child kill him. He saw the world crumble and burn in flames one too many times. He felt empty, as though there was nothing left for him to do.


    ¡°Damned humans, even now you find ways to hurt me¡­ Priest, if you saw me now¡­ Would you forgive me? How about you Vesper? Is there one person that would forgive me? Would you¡­ little one?¡±