Chapter 3: Loss

Across the forests and villages, thousands of cavalry and infantry forced-marched heavily and caught the attention of passing bystanders and farmers: wondering what was going on. Among the trudging feet and horses hooves, they also saw the flying white banners of a golden horse imprinted on it as well as a red banner with a dark purple wild boar on it. Leading these men were a young man and an older man: both of them wearing white armour and white capes with golden devices on them. Next to the two men was a giant riding a behemoth horse and holding on to a giant spear that no mere man could carry. Those who were good at counting estimated that two thousand men were on the march towards north.

After saying farewell and wishing a safe but quick victories to their friends and commanders, Daniel Cavelier, Eric Hodenc and William Loreton led the 1st Company of the White Crusaders and the 4th Battalion of the Royal Army towards the Narrow Path: bringing about two thousand men all together. They have begun their march from Davin's Stronghold, marching for hours and only stopping near water holes to refresh themselves before continuing forward. Finally when their path became narrower, they finally reached their destination.

'My lord!' William pointed. 'We arrived at Falcon's Hover!'

Daniel nodded. 'Good, let's hope that we're not too late.'

Daniel, William and Eric kneed their horses forward until they entered the keep: the gates opening widely and their troops entering the keep. Daniel, Eric and William stopped their horses and as they dismounted, a young man with brown hair and blue eyes greeted them: wearing the uniforms that marked him as a vice-commander.

'Greeting Grand Crusader!' the man saluted. 'Vice-commander Ian Vass of the 7th Company, sir!'

'At ease vice-commander Ian.' Daniel said as Ian stood at ease. 'Where is Commander Silencio?'

'He's at Wolf's Claw Keep training three hundred of our men.' Ian Vaas replied.

'Were there any reports of attacks?' Daniel then asked. When Ian shook his head in confusion, Daniel added. 'We're just in time: Avencus has not attack yet. William, I want you and vice-commander Ian to work together and fortified Falcon's Hover while Eric and I will head to Wolf's Claw Keep.'

'Yes sir!' William saluted and Ian joined him.

Daniel nodded and kneeing his horse in the sides, galloped out of Falcon's Hover with Eric and a thousand men: heading North to Wolf's Claw Keep. They were halfway to Wolf's Claw Keep when Daniel turned to Eric.

'You all right big guy?'He shouted over the thunders of horse hoofs.

Eric grunted. 'Never better. Why do you ask?'

Daniel wanted to inquiry about things between Lia and he but decided not to. 'This might be a battle against Avencus himself. So we have to be more careful than usual.'

'But won't that be great?' Eric asked. 'If we can kill Avencus now then this whole war will be over! Then we can pursue other… Interest in peace!'

Daniel bit his lower lips at Eric's words but only nodded. 'True…'

Then one of the riders rode next to Daniel. 'Grand Crusader, Wolf's Claws Keep is just ahead!'

Daniel snapped out of his thinking and looked upwards: seeing the grey stoned building with battlements and white banners with a golden fox flying in the air. Wolf's Claw Keep was like it was supposed to be except that there were no guards guarding the rear of the castle and the back gate was opened. Also, there was a loud din of shouting and clashing of weapons coming from the keep.

'That's sounds like a battle!' Eric shouted.

'It must be Avencus!' Daniel said and unsheathed his sword. 'Hurry men! The Night Wolves have attacked! We must aid Commander Silencio and our brothers!'

His men picked up their cry and hurried faster towards the keep: speeding through the gate and dismounted immediately. Daniel and Eric dismounted and they were immediately surrounded in chaos: soldiers running everywhere while captains bellowed orders. Above on the battlements: Daniel could hear the whooshes of flying arrows and the screams from injured or dying men. One of the captains noticed the newly arrivals and approached them, saluting almost immediately.

'Captain John Allen awaiting your orders, Grand Crusader!'

'At ease.' Daniel said. 'What's the situation here and where's Commander Silencio?'

'The Night Wolves came out of nowhere and attacked us! They have been putting Wolf's Claw Keep on siege for an hour and we have lost two hundred men! Also… Commander Silencio tried to charge out but Chargrine the Butcher killed him! The men are losing hope!'

Daniel and Eric looked at each other. Chargrine the Butcher was a half-man and half-ogre, the size of a giant and had the strength of ten men: a result from Avencus' magical experiments. Chargrine was a human butcher working in one of the villages near Morte Mountain when Avencus, noticing Chargrine's fascination in cutting up meat of both animals and humans, recruited him and magically fused ogre's blood into Chargrine's system: making him a powerful being. Now he served Avencus as battle commander of the Night Wolves and was barely away from his master.

'If Chargrine is here that means Avencus is here too.' Daniel muttered and Eric nodded in agreement. Daniel surveyed the surroundings quickly and ordered. 'Eric, stay here with your battalion and hold the door! Do not let the enemies get through! Once I've given the signal, charge out immediately!' Eric nodded as Daniel faced the men he brought with. 'I want five hundred archers, crossbowmen and spearmen to come with me to the battlements! Cavalry and heavy infantries, stay here and act as reserve.' His men quickly moved to make room for the men Daniel requested. Daniel turned to John. 'Captain John, lead the way.'

John saluted and led Daniel and the five hundred men to the stairs and they quickly stepped onto the battlements: chaos all around him. Daniel saw the defending White Crusaders fighting back with bows and spears as Night Wolves climbed onto the battlements with ladders: only to be dealt quickly with by the defenders. Finding a secure spot, Daniel surveyed the grounds in front of the castle: there were thousands of Night Wolves armed with shields, swords and axes, screaming war or death cries. There were ladders leaning against the walls and Night Wolves climbing to the battlements with either spears or swords in hands. Behind their lines were hundreds of archers raining fire arrows on Wolf's Claw Keep and unfortunately a dozen or so warlocks: blasting the defenders with fireballs or weakening the walls with lightning bolts.

Standing among them and bellowing orders was a small giant about ten feet tall, slightly taller than Eric, with scars on his arms and face. His chin and neck were covered in a spiky beard and his black hair was standing up. He wore black armour that was covered in a brown apron meant for a butcher and in his half-meaty and half-muscles hands were twin axes that were cracked but still dangerously sharp. His black pupils bored into the walls and spittle flew as he shouted to his men to take down Wolf's Claw Castle.

Daniel grimaced at the sight of Chargrine the Butcher and bellowed his own orders. 'Archers, concentrate your attack on the enemy archers! Crossbowmen, target those warlocks! We can't let them blast us with magic! The rest of you, fend the Night Wolves from the battlements! Do not let a single Night Wolf reached the top!'

The defenders quickly reorganised themselves and their morale rose: especially with their Grand Crusader leading them. Archers stood in two lines away from the front of the battlements and drawing their arrows onto their bows, they raised their bows at a certain angle upwards and released: the arrows raining behind the Night Wolves' lines and screams filled the air. Crossbowmen took to the highest towers of the keep and hiding themselves from the warlocks, they took aim and released their bolts: skewering warlocks and silencing them for good. Some of the warlocks realised what was going on and cast shield spells: keeping them distracted and unable to attack the keep. Soldiers armed with spears, logs or rocks quickly appeared at the battlements and stabbed approaching Night Wolves with spears or knocked them off the ladders with rocks and logs while pikemen used their long pikes to push the ladders away from the wall: sending them and the men on the ladders crashing down onto the ground. Soon, the Night Wolves were slowly backing away as they could not advance without their support: which were being dealt with arrows.

Chargrine, noticing his men were retreating, roared and cut down any fleeing Night Wolves: forcing his men to attack reluctantly. The warlocks quickly cast a magic shield over the archers and themselves: shielding them from the defenders and allowing their archers to fire back once they were organised. Daniel quickly shouted his next orders.

'TAKE COVER!' He shouted and he raised a shield to protect himself from enemies' fire. In front of the archers were infantries units holding large shields with golden crosses on them and at the sound of Daniel's order, they raised their shield to protect themselves and the archers while the crossbowmen and other defender hid behind the walls as rain of fire arrows fell on them: wounding a few men. The Night Wolves roared and gaining their momentum, resume their attack.

Daniel turned to Captain John. 'Captain, stay here and defend the battlements! Order the men to clear the gates while General Eric and I charged out. Give us five minutes before sounding the horn!'

John saluted and with his personal guards, Daniel ran down the stairs and first went to where the reserve units were: they stood attention when Daniel approached them.

'I need another hundred men!' Daniel said. 'Prepare to charge out!'

One hundred men, a mixture of cavalry and infantries, followed Daniel as he joined Eric who stood waiting with Boar Killer in hand and on his giant horse. A squire brought in Daniel's horse; who quickly mounted it and joined Eric.

'What's the plan?' Eric asked as Daniel rode next to him.

'At the sound of the horns.' Daniel answered. 'We charge out: you deal with Chargrine while I take care of the archers and the warlocks. If we can beat them, we may have a chance of surviving all of this.'

For the first time since Aaron Wentworth's death, Eric grinned. 'I thought you hate fighting warlocks?'

Daniel grunted as he fastened his helm. 'Not like I got a choice. Besides, if anybody can fight that ogre and survive it's you. Once the Night Wolves' support is neutralised, our men will have an easier time taking down the enemy.'

Then the sounds of the horns filled the air and Daniel pulled out of Hope from his scabbard as the men behind him and Eric prepared to move out: weapons in hand and grim determination written on their faces.

'That's the signal!' Daniel said. 'Open the gates!'

Four men opened the gates wide and immediately, Eric and Daniel charged out with half a thousand of men: clashing into the Night Wolves' lines. Daniel swung Hope in upwards and downwards slashes, cutting down or slamming Hope into their helmets on any Night Wolves who were within range while Eric speared and impaled as many Night wolves as he could: dismounting so he could fight better. The men behind them quickly spread out and wielding swords, shields and spears, they began engaging the Night Wolves in close combat. Relieved from scaling Night Wolves, the archers and crossbowmen concentrated their fire on the Night Wolves archers and warlocks: even though they were protected by the warlocks' shield spell, some of the archers were shot due to weak spots in the shield.

Chargrine, seeing that the Tanelic forces were out in the open, roared and swung his axes to his right and then to his left: throwing his own men aside and clearing a path. Daniel and Eric looked up as Chargrine charged towards them, axes raised while cutting Night Wolves and White Crusaders down to get to them.

Daniel whistled. 'He's a big fellow. Sure you don't need help taking him?'

Eric nodded, determined. 'You go and stop those warlocks. I'll deal with this… Butcher here.'

Daniel nodded. 'Good luck.'

Eric nodded back and with a roar, charged at the incoming Chargrine with Boar Killer raised. Daniel looked around and saw twenty of his White Crusaders still on their horses.

'You men!' he ordered. 'With me!'

Daniel along with twenty horsemen carved their way through the horde of Night Wolves, slicing and spearing their way until they reached the archers. Daniel quickly dismounted and with a yell, broke through the shield spell and slashed a warlock's face in half: weakening the spell. The Night Wolves archers quickly discarded their bows and pulled out their swords as the horsemen crashed into them: sending some flying backwards and some were trampled on. Daniel deflected a sword blow and after slicing his attacker's head off, brought Hope up and blocked three arrows before dodging a fireball: Daniel sprinting towards the warlock and the three archers. When Daniel reached them, he sliced the warlock's hands off and kicked the first archer into the other two: sending them in a pile who were soon taken care by the other White Crusaders. Daniel blocked a downward blow from an axe and before he could attack, he sensed something behind him and ducked: a lightning bolt striking the axe man into a crisp. Daniel turned around and swung Hope sideway, slicing a Night Wolf 's legs off, and stood up and cut down another Night Wolf with a left strike: while dodging a warlock's fireball.

Daniel sprinted towards the warlock, dodging magical attacks and cutting down any Night Wolves in his way and as he got closer, he jumped and brought Hope down on the warlock: cleaving his head in half. The warlock's body shuddered before falling backwards as Daniel swung Hope again: decapitating two more Night Wolves. His men finished off the rest of the archers as Daniel picked up a dropped spear and with all his might, threw it into the air and impaled the last warlock in between the eyes: the warlock confusingly clutched the spear before falling forward. With the Night Wolves' support gone, Daniel turned to the two giants who were having an all-out-war.

Chargrine roared and brought his twin axes down on Eric who blocked it with Boar Killer: both of them in a deadlock. Eric then head-butted Chargrine in the face, breaking Chargrine's nose and a few teeth. Chargrine retaliated by pulling Eric's spear down with his left axe and raising his right axe, brought it down towards Eric. Eric's left hand quickly let go of Boar Killer and grabbed Chargrine's right wrist, the axe a few inches from Eric's face, and rammed Chargrine with all his weight: causing Chargrine to fall on his back and causing a few pebbles to bounce off the ground. Chargrine roared in pain and when Eric tried to impale him to the ground, Chargrine released a powerful kick into Eric's mid-section: sending Eric stumbling backwards and fell painfully onto his back when he tripped on a corpse.

Daniel, not going to watch his friend die, scooped up an abandoned bow and grabbed a few arrows from a Night Wolf's quiver. He nocked an arrow and pointed towards Chargrine, who was on his feet and was about to bring his axe down on the hapless Eric, and released: the arrow impaled on the back of Chargrine's head. Chargrine, not screaming in pain but still finding it a nuisance, turned around and was greeted with more arrows: one impaling on his right shoulder and another in his left chest. Seeing that Chargrine was undaunted by the arrows, Daniel took aim and released: this time finding it mark. The arrow pierced Chargrine's right eye and this was a pain that Chargrine could not ignored. He screamed in agony and clutching the arrow in his right hand, pulled it out along with his right eye: losing his sight on his right. Screaming in anger and blinded with fury, Chargrine tossed the arrow and eye aside and roared as he charged towards Daniel with axes in his hands.

Daniel dropped the bow and pulled out Hope to meet Chargrine's charge as the Butcher brought his right axe down upon Daniel. Daniel quickly stepped aside and the axe slammed into the ground: launching rock shards in every direction. Without thinking, Daniel slammed Hope onto Chargrine's right wrist: cutting through the bones and severing his right hand from his arm. Chargrine roared in pain as blood gushed out from his severed hand and raised his other axe but before he could bring it down on Daniel, a spear lodged into his arm: forcing Chargrine to drop his other axe and screamed in pain.

Pulling Hope from Chargrine's right wrist, Daniel stepped forward and swung Hope sideway across Chargrine's belly: slicing the apron and the armour in half. As Hope was made from the strongest metal in the kingdom, the blade had also tore the giant's belly with a small cut but it was enough to cause damage. Chargrine's belly opened and red intestines and a giant liver burst from it: knocking Daniel to the ground and covering him with the foul innards. Chargrine roared in pain and tried to cover his ripped belly with his stumped right hand but he felt someone placing their hands around his throat from behind and pulled him backwards: pinning him to the ground. Just as Chargrine could get up, Eric picked up an abandoned shield and raising the shield above his head, brought it down on Chargrine's neck: severing the giant's head from his body.

Chargrine's head rolled away, his black eyes glaring lifelessly, and his massive body shuddered slightly before staying still. Panting heavily, Eric stood up and quickly walked towards the giant pile of intestines and other internal organs that poured out of Chargrine's body.

'Daniel.' Eric asked with concern. 'Daniel, where are you?'

For answer, a hand shot out from the pile of intestines and despite it being covered in blood and bile. Eric grasped it and pulled it upwards: pulling a blood-covered Daniel from the foul pile. With Hope in his right hand and his left hand being grabbed by Eric, Daniel thrust Hope into the ground and untied his helm as fast as possible the moment Eric let go of his hand: spluttering out and gasping for fresh air that he desperately need. He threw his helm to the ground and breathed in deeply. Eric looked at him with concern.

'You're alright?'

'Besides smelling like something coming out from a slaughterhouse, I'll live.' Daniel replied, trying to wipe away the core from his person. 'Congratulations, you killed that brute. We won't be seeing him on the battlefield ever again.'

'I couldn't had done it without you.' Eric said modestly. He and Daniel surveyed their surroundings: their men had already sent the Night Wolves on the retreat. 'Looks like we're winning the battle.'

Daniel nodded in satisfaction as the Royal Army and the White Crusaders cut down any Night Wolves who were too slow to fall back. With their leader dead, the Night Wolves abandoned their weapons and banners and quickly ran from the direction where they came from: towards Morte Mountain. Daniel looked back at Wolf's Claw Keep and the defenders who were shouting and cheering at the Night Wolves' withdrawal before he turned back to the retreating enemies: his eyes narrowed.

As the Night Wolves ran up a hill, they ran past a group of horsemen who were overlooking the keep and the battlefield: their horses were clad in black armour and they were all in black. Their leader wore a black robe with purple lines going down to the bottom. He was bald with yellow eyes and his chin was covered in a black beard with wisps of white and grey in them. In his hand was a sceptre with a green eye glowing with a demonic aura and made from what looks like demon bones. As his men passed him, he looked at both Daniel and Eric: with a superior look.

'Avencus.' Daniel muttered the leader of the Night Wolves and the enemy of Tanelic. When Daniel accompanied his grandfather onto the battlefield, he has never encounter Avencus but only his henchmen. Now seeing him for the first time face-to-face, Daniel can tell that Avencus was a powerful man not because of his magic but the way he hold himself. To his surprise, there was no resemblance between him and his brother, Arald, but maybe Avencus must have magically altered his appearance: to erase any traces to connect him and Arald.

After the last Night Wolf retreated, Avencus pulled in his reins and rode away: his henchmen following him. Eric stepped next to Daniel and shouted.

'Avencus is running away! Let's go after him!'

Daniel snapped from his thoughts as Eric made the declaration. Daniel frowned. 'No, Avencus is full of wile. Let's reinforce the keep and wait for…'

'How can you think like that?' Eric rounded on Daniel. 'Avencus is just within our sight: he's ours for the taking! If we can kill or capture him, this war will be over! If we stay put and wait, Avencus will slither back to whatever hole he came from and this war will continue on! We can't let that happen! We can end this here and now!'

Daniel looked at Eric in surprise: unaccustomed to hear the gentle and quiet Eric to say something so bold and rash. Then he considered Eric's words. The Night Wolves had attacked all four passes that led into Tanelic: their forces dramatically divided. Avencus must have brought his personal bodyguards along with a few thousand men. With Chargrine the Butcher dead, the Night Wolves' morale has plummeted and after failing to take Wolf Claw's keep, their numbers has also dwindled. Avencus was vulnerable for capture.

Daniel made a decision. 'Eric, gather the men and prepare to pursuit Avencus. We must capture him at all cost!' Eric nodded and began shouting orders as Daniel faced Captain John who was looking down from the battlements. 'Captain, stay here with the troops as reserve. General Eric and Iwill be pursuing Avencus!'

Captain John saluted as Daniel and Eric mounted and leading the rest of the men that charged out of the keep, they gave chase on Avencus and the Night Wolves. Galloping up the hill and down, they reached a forested area of the mountain with dark, tall trees that covered the skies and bushes. While leading the pursuit Daniel mused that an area with such dense vegetation was given such an ominous name.

Then something hit him and he frowned. Avencus was a warlock, the first of their kind, who could take on an army and any mages foolish enough to challenge him. So why is he running away without a fight? Alarmed now, he raised his right hand and he and the rest of the pursuers skidded to a halt.

'Why are we stopping?' Eric demanded as he reined in his snorting horse.

Daniel ignored him and studied his surrounding. So focussed on capturing Avencus that they had not realised that they entered into a valley. The valley was deep with the rock walls extremely high and the top was covered with bushes and trees. The base of the valley alone was covered in heavy vegetation. You do not need magic to hide troops in this valley.

Realising his mistake and the danger there were in, Daniel screamed. 'FALL BACK! FALL BACK! WE HAVE FALLEN INTO THE ENEMIES' TRAP!'

Before anyone of them could react, flames surrounded them: making their horses neighed loudly and forcing them on their hind legs. Before they could calm their steads down, arrows flew through the flames: striking down many of the pursuers. Screams of the injured and the dead filled the air as the flames intensified. Daniel pulled out Hope and knocked away a flying arrow: shielding his eyes. On top of the valley and popping out from the bushes, he could see Night Wolves nocking and firing down on them. The screams of dying men and horses filled the air as the White Crusaders' group were thinning.

'Form shield wall!' Daniel ordered as he and Eric quickly dismounted.

At the order of the grand crusader, the soldiers quickly dismounted from their horses and raised their shields to protect themselves and their Grand Crusader: forming a shield dome. Arrows impaled on the shields but no one was hurt.

'Fall back!' Daniel shouted, repeating his earlier order. 'Break out from the flames and retreat back to Wolf's Claws Keep!'

His men obeyed and lifting their shields a few inches off the ground, they marched towards the direction they came from. Despite the intense heat the flames were given out, the shields protected the men from being burned alive as the men used their mailed boots to stamp out the fire. Soon, all of them managed to break out of the ring of fire and would soon run back to the keep.

Then without warning, something slammed onto the shield wall: causing a loud explosion and sending men flying backwards. With the shield wall down, the Night Wolves' archers continued launching volleys: shooting down more men. Daniel cursed, knowing it was a warlock's fireball that broke the shield wall, and glanced around. As the enemies continued to fire arrow after arrows, he could see their infantries and warlocks ready to charge in.

'Fall back now!' He shouted. His men obeyed and disregarding any battle formation or discipline, they fled back to Wolf's Claw Keep: shielding themselves from enemies' fires. Soon, the remnants of the pursuit force were on the run.

Except for one.

Eric Hodenc knocked the arrows with Boar Killer and roared out a challenge. 'COME OUT YOU COWARDS! FACE ME LIKE A MAN!'

'Eric!' Daniel shouted. Running towards him. 'This is no time for... No!'

He was too late. A warlock held out his arm, his palm opened, and unleash bolts of lightning towards Eric. Before Eric could do anything, the lightning hit Eric in the chest: his gigantic body shaking and making him screamed in agony. Daniel could only stared in horror as his friend was electrocuted to death. Thankfully, the warlock's spell ended and Eric was flung backwards: Daniel catching him and preventing him from landing on his back. Daniel lowered Eric and was horrified. Eric's chest was charred and black: his flesh smoking and his heart was dangerously out in the open. Blood flowed from his wound and mouth and his eyes were closed. Fortunately Eric was still breathing but it was irregular.

'Eric!' Daniel said urgently, shaking him. 'Eric, wake up! Don't die on me!' He turned and saw that some of his White Crusaders had not retreated yet. 'You men! Help me bring General Eric back to the keep!'

The four crusaders quickly came to their grand crusader's aid: two of them holding up their shields to block more arrows while the other two help Daniel carry Eric. It was no easy task as Eric was heavy and it would take the strength of ten men to carry him. Nevertheless, Daniel and the four crusaders desperately and hurriedly carried Eric away from the ambush and back to Wolf Claw's Keep. The Night Wolves continued firing their arrows at them but have not pursued them: giving them the advantage to escape. As soon as they were out of arrow range, the two crusaders who were holding up the rear flung their shields away and held Eric by the legs: helping to bring Eric to safety.

Daniel thought it felt like forever until he saw the grey keep with white banners with the insignia of golden foxes on them: they finally arrived at Wolf Claw's Keep. At the sounds of the horns and urgent shouting, the doors of the keep flung opened and Daniel and his party stumbled inside: gently dropping Eric onto the ground as they fell on their legs. Blinded with tears, Daniel crawled towards Eric who was still on his back but still breathing. Through his tears and panting, he could see shapes of Captain John and two physicians approaching them. Captain John helped his grand crusader onto his feet while the physicians tended to Eric.

Daniel felt himself being lifted by Captain John and being dragged towards Eric. The physicians inspected Eric's charred chest and turned to Daniel, shaking their heads sadly.

'Forgive us our lord.' One of them said. 'But there's nothing we can do to help General Eric without magic. His chest is badly burnt and his lungs and heart are badly damaged. He's only have a few minutes left to live.'

Everybody near bowed their heads while Daniel let himself go from captain John's grasp and passing through the physicians, he dropped onto his knees. His world was spinning and there was a lump in his throat. His vision was blurred with more tears as he stared at his friend. Tears flowing down his cheeks, Daniel gently shook Eric.

'Eric… Eric! Please… Say something…'

To his relief, Eric's eyes fluttered and they slowly opened: moaning in agony as he tried to move. His eyes widened when his hand fell on his charred chest: making him wince in pain.

'D-Daniel…' he said weakly.

Daniel, beside himself with joy, quickly grasped Eric's hand. 'I'm here my friend.'

'A-am I… dying?' he asked.

Daniel lowered his eyes before replying, trying to force a smile. 'Of course not, you're just injured. The physicians will patch you up as soon as you return to Davin's Stronghold.'

'P-please…' Eric rasped out loud. 'Don't hold back the truth…'

Daniel closed his eyes and nodded. Eric then continued. 'F-forgive me… My friend. I-If I had not force you to pursue Avencus, none of this would have happened. Now… because of my foolishness, we lost a lot of men and our momentum…'

'Please don't say that!' Daniel protested. 'It was my…'

Eric shook his head. 'No my friend… It was because it was for my love for Lia that I acted so rashly. I-I thought… That if we win this war now… Lia… Would pick me…' Then he let out a laugh but coughed after the laugh. 'I'm such a fool… She would never fall in love with a oaf like me…'

Daniel shook his head. 'Eric, you're the most gentle and kind person she have ever come across to. I'm sure that when the war is over, she would had pick you.'

Eric, despite facing death soon, looked hopeful. 'I-I… Am glad… I met… All of you… Johann… Matthias… Argus… Kara… Lia … And you… I'm proud… To call you my… Brothers and sisters…' He sighed. 'Daniel… Can you… Do me a favour?'

'Anything my brother.' Daniel said immediately.

'Tell my ma and pa…' Eric gurgled, struggling to talk. 'I love them and… I have failed… Them and grandfather…' Before Daniel could protest, he continued on. 'Tell… The others… I will miss them and… I will watch over them from heaven. Please… Send Lia… My love and… Even in death… I will always love her!'

Eric emphasised on his last word before coughing violently and his head fell back, his body showing no signs of breathing and his eyes were staring lifelessly towards the sky.

Daniel, not believing what he was seeing, desperately shook Eric. 'Eric! Eric!' He shook harder now. 'Come on big guy, you can't die! You can't die!' Daniel was now yelling desperately. Before he could continue on, somebody firmly but gently lifted him away from Eric.

'My lord.' Captain John said sadly. 'General Eric… Is gone…'

Daniel stared at the corpse of Eric Hodenc, tears now flowing from his eyes as John let him go. Eric Hodenc: a good son, a fearsome warrior, a compassionate and loyal friend was gone forever.

Daniel lifted his head and facing the sky, gave out a cry: raw with grief and frustration. The entire keep heard the cry and all those who did bowed their heads in respect whether those who were under Eric cried. If Eric's spirit were present, he would be touched at the mourning his friends and allies were giving him.