2 Chapter 1

You decided to help the beggar, but you don't want to enrage the merchant further. You walk toward the beggar and grab his hand: "I'm taking you under my custody." You walk back to your patrol while dragging the beggar with you. "The rest of you, disperse!" You yell. The citizens turn around and scatter away.

You take the beggar into the patrol so that horses can cover the two of you from prying eyes. You untie your pouch containing your allowance and hand it to the beggar. "Thank you, thank you. I promise I'll return it to you." He trembles in gratefulness while clasping his hand and rocking it back and forth. "Pay it no mind. I'm not expecting anything in return. You best avoid the market square, lest the town folks think you absconded." You wave off the beggar's promise and climb back to your horse. "Bless you my lord." The tears of appreciation shed profusely from the beggar's eyes. "Move it. I still have work to do." You signal your horse to move forward while the beggar scoots away.

"You sure about this?" Your lieutenant asked.

"Sure about what?" You look at him.

"You'd just handed a bunch of money to a crimi......"

"How did you know he's a criminal?" You interrupt.

Your lieutenant turns away in silence and you continue the patrol. After finishing it, you return to Faelya Castle. At the castle gate, your lieutenant yells: "Open the gate!" The portcullis stands motionless, disturbing silence creeps out from the castle and encroach you all. You turn to your lieutenant as he looks back at you, it never happens before, something is amidst. "This is the royal patrol, open the gate!!!" Again your lieutenant yelled, but the portcullis remains unresponsive.

Sensing troubles are brewing, you step your horse aside and call: "Mage!" A banner bearer behind you rides forth with a stern frown. He slowly raises his banner while incanting. “Kriaros……” His eyes begin to glow blue as gleaming blue mist appears around his right fist and condenses into multiple streaks that circle around his fist in various directions which form a spherical cage the size of a pomegranate. “Terasio!” He growled as he lunges his banner upward, the cage begins to ascend along the staff and grows bigger until its diameter is equal to that of a carriage wheel. At the same time, it hums and the streaks accelerate horrifyingly. “Ektoros!!!” He yelled and thrusts his banner toward the portcullis. The glowing cage launches forth with a deafening explosion and burst into a massive pile of sparks as it crashes into the portcullis with a thundering clang and snaps it off from its support then knock it back into the air. A second clang erupted as the portcullis hit the ground a few meters away with a trailing spark as it brushes against the ground.

"Onward!" You called and charge your horse through the castle gate. The scene inside the bailey strikes such atrocious fear that you feel the earth around you is swirling, and a panicked butterfly bouncing around in your stomach struggling to get out. The sentries, the guards, the soldiers stationed there are dismembered and laid dead in their own puddle of blood. Panic-stricken, the entire patrol quickly dismount. You are barely able to compose yourself and stumble toward a dead body. All four of his limbs and his head are torn off from his body. His face is littered with sinister bite marks as if something is biting his face and tear off his head. "What's going on......? I’ve never seen anything like that……" Your lieutenant asked in bafflement. “Father!” You suddenly recall your father is talking with Duke Melios Fidiraecus. You sprint toward the main hall. “Wait! My lord!” Your lieutenant cried. You dash madly to the main hall, as its door reaches your sight, you charge with full might and knock it open. What happened in the main hall utterly freezes you in horror.

A swarm of waist height demons surrounded by dark mist is roaming around. It has a jaw that opens sideways and outward with horrifying amount of rows of razor-sharp teeth inside. They are hissing, raising their arms, and extending their head forward as if they want to leap at you. Suddenly, a hoarse and deep voice emerges: “At ease my children, let me have a word with the young Lord.” Amidst the demons, you see a man in dark armor turns around, revealing the coat of arm with a coiling serpent devouring a man. It's Duke Melios Fidiraecus! Besides him laid a corpse, your father’s corpse! He's dismembered just like everyone else. A sinister smile appears across Duke Melios' face. "You like what I have done with your castle?"

You quickly unbuckle the shield you are carrying on your back and put it on your left hand, as well as drawing your sword with your right hand. You retract your right leg and your sword behind so that your shield and left leg is in front. You lower your stance and bracing for any incoming assault. A burst of sinister laughter reverberates throughout the hall: "Still a fighter I see." The burning rage slowly spreads inside, urging you to charge toward the murderous Duke to avenge all that is slaughtered. But the sight of devilish spawns strikes such terrible fear that is capable of quenching the burning rage inside you. After all, you were trained on human opponents, not demons, you may get dismembered just like the others. Conflicted by the stalemate of thoughts, you are hesitant to make a decision.

“Having a problem deciding? Young lord? Here! Let me help you!” With the evil smile still on his face, Duke Melios Fidiraecus extends and opens his palm toward you. Dark, shadowy mist seeps out from his finger and winds toward you like a serpent. Upon reaching you, it wraps around and constricting you. You struggle, trying to break free but out of a sudden, your vision blurs out and your strength fades away. Unable to withstand even your own weight, you drop your shield and sword and collapse.

As insurmountable darkness is clouding your vision, a clamor burst out: “Kriaros Ektoros!” Huge barrage thunder forth. Immediately, your vision and strength return to you. You get up and rearm yourself with your shield and sword on the ground, your lieutenant rushes to your side and raises his sword: “Shield formation!!!” Immediately all the knights from the royal patrol rushes in front of you and form a line to adopt the shield stance like what you did just now.

“Are you hurt my Lord?!” Your lieutenant grabs your shoulder and asks worryingly.

“Yeah…… Yeah, I’m fine.” Barely able to compose yourself, you stuttered.

Deafening growls abruptly burst out followed by a barrage of clangs. The demons are charging at your knights! They valiantly brace the charge and thrust their sword at the demons.

“Look, my lord. We are no match for these demon spawns. You need to escape, stay alive, and avenge us!” Your lieutenant frowns anxiously.

“No! I’ll never abandon my comrades!” You break free from your lieutenant’s hold on your shoulder.

“Watch out!” A knight shouted.

You quickly turn around, the dark slithering mist returns! As it starts to coil around both you and your lieutenant, he kicks you and you tumble backward letting you dodge the sinister constriction. The coiling mist wrap around your lieutenant. He struggles, trying to break free, suddenly his body stiffens up as red mist starts to seeps out from his body. You watch in horror, “Is that…… his blood……?” “Forgive me, my Lord!” One of the banner bearers crouches down to grab your shoulder, as you turn back, he shouted: “Metaforos!” A flash of bright light envelops you and briefly, you felt being levitated and as the light fades, you drop back down on the ground.

You swiftly got back up but as you collect yourself, you notice you are surrounded by woods filled with crickets’ chirp. The banner bearer casted a teleportation spell to transport you to safety. You look around, trying to orientate yourself. As you catch sight of Faelya Castle, you desperately run toward it, but as you reach the moat, you stop and realize you need to stay alive to avenge your family. Consumed by the anguish, you dropped to your knee, and let out a long and painful cry at the moon. Your enemy is right in front of you but there’s nothing you can do. After your senses come to you, you get back up with tearful eyes and continue with your journey.

You worked out you are at the suburb northwest of Ouraelus from the relative position between you, the moat, and Faelya Castle. The Potamus Manor is just east of you within walking distance, you remember you used to frolic with one of the farmer’s daughter when you’re a kid, you decided to seek shelter there. You run through the woods, but the night is upon you and darkness shrouds your vision. You tripped and fell several times by rocks hidden in shadow. Nonetheless with vengeance burn vigorously in your heart, you get back up immediately and continue your journey.

You finally arrive at the road that leads to the entrance of Ouraelus, which is to your right, whereas in front of you is a path that crosses the Blessen River and leads to the Potamus Manor. Blessen River is a natural barrier that is doubled as a moat for Ouraelus. It flows from northwest to southeast and split into “λ” shape fork before discharge into the ocean. Ouraelus fits snugly into the delta in the “λ” shape fork, while the Potamus Manor is situated on the east side of the fork.

You quickly follow the path to the manor. The path is flanked by lampposts with farmlands behind it. You dash straight into one of the farmhouses and pound on the flimsy wooden door as hard as you can. For each split of a second past in silence, your heart grows exponentially anxious. You pound on the door again with all your might. "I'm comin'! I'm comin'! Stop hitin' my damn door!" A hoarse voice blared out. But your mind is densely clouded with fear and panic and couldn’t register the voice. You raise your arm but as your fist is about to land on the door, it opens up with a squeak. A man with grayish-white hair and a timeworn face emerges from the gap frowning.

Upon seeing you, his frown loosens, and opens up his door agape: “Ah…… My lord, how can I be of service?”

Panic-stricken, you stutter: “My…… I……”

The farmer detected the panic on your face and ask concernedly: “What’s wrong my Lord? Take a deep breath.”

Barely able to compose yourself, you reply: “My castle is taken by Duke Melios! I need shelter!”

He reaches out to your shoulder and gently pulling you: "Come! Come inside!" You walk in, his daughter is seated by the open hearth. She has grown into a fine young maiden with fair skin and blonde hair. She's donning a blue tunic that reaches her calves and covers her shoulder and half of her upper arm with white undertunic that covers a slightly bigger portion of her calves and about two-third of her lower arm. She forces a smile at you but couldn't hide the worry for the trouble you went through.

The farmer closes the door behind you and says: "If Duke Melios has taken your castle, he may be looking for you to tie up loose ends. You best hide in my cellar for the time being. Dimi, go fetch some food." "Yes, father." The maiden answered with a nod and get up on her feet. "Come this way, my Lord." The farmer leads you to the back door and takes the lantern that is hanging by it. You walk through the back door, the ground is thickly covered with dry leaves, as you step on it, loud crunches exploded beneath your feet. The farmer sweeps some of the leaves off with his leg, revealing a trap door. "Wait for me to light the lantern." He said, then hangs the lantern by his elbow, and then proceeds to open the trapdoor and climb down the ladder. Darkness seems to almost consume the farmer if not for the ring of light emitting from his lantern. As he reaches the bottom, he disappears into the corner before another ring of light burst out as he lights the other lantern in the cellar. The farmer turns around and looks up at you before whispering: "Quickly my Lord! Before anyone sees you!" You climb down, a gush of pungent smell invades your nostrils. As you reach the bottom, you look around and see a rack with several pieces of cheese. "The cheeses are still aging, I'll have my daughter send you some food." "Thank you. I'll one day return the favor." You said with a salute and bow. "It's the least I can do." He replied while returning the salute.

Dimi arrives with a basket full of bread, she hangs the basket around her elbow and climbs down the ladder. She hands you the basket with a faint smile: “Here my Lord, have some food.” "Thank you maiden." You said while taking the basket from her. "Call me Dimi." Her smile blossoms. "Thank you, Dimi." You smile back in gratitude. "Alright my Lord. You should be able to settle in here for the night. Dimi and I should head back up." “Thank you once again, for your kindness.” Again, you bow and salute. He returns the salute and climbs back up the ladder. They close the trapdoor, you can hear the dried leaves shuffling above you. Sounds like they are trying to cover the trapdoor with the dried leaves.

You sit down on the floor and start stuffing the bread into your mouth. Your dinner time is one hour ago after all. Suddenly, a barrage of percussion exploded followed by muffled shouting. Sounds like someone is pounding at the farmer's door while shouting. Is it...... Duke Melios......? Has he found you……? You quickly put down the bread and get back on your feet. You grab the hilt of your sword while listening attentively, the pounding rages on until it ends abruptly with a crash and a thud. “Search!” You heard a man yelling but it doesn’t sound like Duke Melios’ voice. Maybe it’s his lieutenant? Maybe Duke Melios enters your castle at the pretense of urgent discussion and then slaughter everyone to dissolve Ouraelus’ defense from within. After that he let his army marches effortlessly into your city. “That devious bastard! I’ll slit his throat off myself! But…… I need to survive…… I need to calm down…… Focus! Focus!” You thought to yourself.

Series of footsteps are drawing closer toward you. Judging from the number of footsteps you heard within a second, you deduce there are at least three men is inside the farmer's house. A sharp squeak shrieks out followed by crunches of dried leaves. The back door is opened and they are on top of you!

"What are you looking for good sir?" You heard the farmer's voice saturated in dismay.

"Duke Aetum is found guilty of plotting against our kingdom! His heir is now a wanted criminal! You will be hung, drawn, and quartered if you aid and abet! Turn them in however, you’ll be rewarded with a fraction of Aetum family coffer. So…… What say you old man?"

"Lord Aetum is never in my house……"

"You will not address the criminal of the kingdom as ‘Lord’, you hear me?! Old man!"

“Yes…… Yes sir……” The farmer replies frightfully.

“Hmmph! Move out!”

You hear a thud as the footsteps march away, but you continue to listen in just in case they come back. The long and distressing silence chills you to your spine. Your heart pounds so hard as if it'll rupture your chest and spurt forth. After a fearful minute, convinced that Duke Melios' lackeys are gone for good, you let out a sigh of relief and sit back down to continue munching on the bread.

After you finish eating, a surge of exhaustion begins to consume you. You take off your armor and sit down against a closet and take a nap. But before you can close your eyes. You notice a torn page hiding beneath the closet. Curious, you take the page for closer inspection. You sweep off the thick layer of dust on top of it, revealing the content. The page is old and fuzzy, but you can make out that it's some sort of visual narrative depicting a knight battling a man-eating demon in Psilus Mountain. It's quite a popular tale, as two hundred years ago a traveling caravan is ambushed by such demon. Almost all crews are devoured except one lucky survivor, who fled to Ouraelus and tell the tale of a vicious demon that feast on men's flesh. The tale soon spread to the ear of Grand Master Knight Gennous. He sets off to face the demon but never returns. Multiple expeditions were carried out to uncover his remain but were unsuccessful. However, there is a silver lining, every Grand Master Knights carry an object which is imbued with their own essence of justice known as a “totem”. As such, only a righteous one can be appointed as Grand Master Knights. If you can uncover the totem of Grand Master Knight Gennous, it may grant you immense power to face Duke Melios. Psilus Mountain is northwest of here where Blessen River originates. It may take you a few days maybe a week to get there and hence it’s a very committal decision. Should you fail on this quest, your opportunity for vengeance is lost forever. But for the sake of your family, you decided to take a leap of faith. You fold the page and put it in your pouch before your eyelids are collapse from the weight of exhaustion.

Daybreak, the chorus of chirps is audible from the cellar. You get back on your feet, climb up the ladder, and push the trapdoor up. Strings of sands and pieces of dried leaves leak into the cellar. You place one hand on the ground to support yourself, and the other hand to support the trapdoor. You slowly let the trapdoor rest on your head, so that both your hands can rest on the ground. You slowly push yourself up against the ground making room for your legs to rest on the ground. You crawl out of the cellar, and support the trapdoor with your hand and close it slowly. As you stand up and turn around, Duke Melios is in front of you! With a gasp of anxiety, you quickly grab your sword’s hilt, but the dark mist already slithered out from his eyes and coils around you. You draw your sword, but immediately your strength fades away and your vision starts to blur. “Join your family! ‘My Lord!’” He says snidely with sinister laughter.

As darkness devours your vision, out of a sudden, an abrupt jolt snap you into another space: the dark, brick wall, a rack with cheeses, you are still in the cellar, cold sweat keep pouring out from every pores in your skin, quick and short breaths relentlessly spurt out from your lung, it was a nightmare. You close your eyes, let out a sigh then take a deep breath and trying to compose yourself. You try to sleep again, but as soon as your eyelids are shut, the face of Duke Melios with a sinister smile reemerges. Your blood starts to boil. You stand up and re-don your armor, sword, and shield and head back above ground.

As soon as you crawl out from the cellar, a series of persistent noise enter your ear. Sounds like two pieces of metal grinding each other. It’s the noise of sword sharpening, it’s unmistakable as you spend your entire life on sword-wielding. You sneak up to the back door and quietly lean on it, “Tie it up, then kill it.” That’s the voice of the farmer. What could that possibly mean? Are they trying to restraint you and kill you in your sleep? Did they finally succumb to Melios’ bounty and double-cross you? What should you do? Although Dimi and her father took care of you, you need to stay alive with whatever means to avenge your family. If you spare them and they betray you, you and your family would wallow in eternal regret. You need to decide now. Hurry up! Before they discover you!

Spare them - skip to Warrior Chapter 3

Kill them - skip to Warrior Chapter 4