Legion

Reiner was running fast, giving everything he had in order to escape, he couldn't afford to get caught right now. The streets were full of people, which gave him a lot of obstacles but also gave him many opportunities to lose the guards. He didn't have a big built, nor any special facial features to be recognized, so he could easily use the crowd to hide and disappear.

Just a few minutes ago he heard something that let him with a sensation of misery. He had trust the people of the black market, and they had spill all the beans, now he was a wanted man.

Being chase by the villages guards he found himself looking into his possibilities with a sour face. He needed to escape, otherwise being trapped in a metal box and beaten to death would be his destiny, or in the other hand, the so rumored "eternal torture" giving by the Dark Order would be given to him.

Reiner's body shivered when the thought crossed his mind. He only heard rumors, but the souls of those who were caught by guards and spilled any information about the Dark Order's operations never found peace after death. Only misery and an endless pain.

Running through the people he turned into a small alley in between an abandoned building and an old tavern, the alley was filled with the filth of the animals who didn't had owners and the trash of the villagers who weren't considerate enough to keep their streets clean. After running fifteen feet the alley went both sides, the left being a dead and the right kept his way for another forty feet, Rainer took the left and when he was about to reach the wall he used his magic.

His body started to change its color to a dirty brown-dark red color, to match the wall that concluded the path, by the time he reached the wall his body was "fused" with the color of the wall itself giving the illusion of having gotten away. The five soldier who were following him arrived at the end and they couldn't feel his presence, just like the wind he had been there just enough to feel it and it had disappeared without a trace.

"He couldn't had gotten too far" the leader said "split and find him"

The four soldiers nodded and went in different directions. The leader stayed there.

"You can get out now" he said "they are gone".

"You almost got me there" Reiner said while canceling the magic that had camouflaged his presence. His expression showing how displeased he was with the situation.

"Sorry Reiner, but some strange things have been happening around lately, some villagers had disappeared and the beats that roamed the forest in the south are nowhere to be seen These times are leaving just a smell fear in the area" he explained.

"So the lord has increased the security of the village" Reiner guessed.

"That's correct, you should tell the Dark Order to stay low for a while"

Reiner took a gold coin out his pocket and threw it to him. The guard caught it and put in his pocket.

"Any place that I could stay?" He asked.

"Close to the north entrance there is a blacksmith, he also rents some rooms, in nothing to brag about but is definitely a place where you could stay without many eyes on you" he said.

Rainer nodded , his body starting to change, giving the impression of being eating by shadows until his body melted with the darkness in the alley, the guard shivered

Reiner looked up to the building in front of him. Two stories, old and not very wide. A broken sign with poor writing hanging from the lower part of the sodden roof said:

"Armory"

Reiner walked into the building finding a spotless room with weapons and armor meticulously organized by size, stile and material. An old man was sitting behind a counter polishing an arm iron sheet.

"Welcome to this humble armory" he said. His voice was weak and broken, like he had been screaming for an entire day.

"I was told I could spend the night here" Reiner said. The old man nodded and show him the stairs. After going up a very narrow space now Reiner found himself on another spotless room. This one had one rectangular wooden table for eight people, three circle tables for two or three people and a small square table by the window with only on chair next to it.

"You can go into that room" a kids voice appeared out thin air. Reiner looked back and saw a red haired boy. He was somewhat tall despite having such a childish face, his arms were covered with scars and his hands and face with dark dots all over it, just like his torn clothes.

"Is there anything to eat?" Reiner asked.

"Dinner is served when the sun begins to rest" the kid said. Reiner nodded and walked into his room.

Again a spotless room. A small bed on a corner and a table with three candles. The floor was clean and there was not sign of dust.

"This place seems to be well kept" Reiner thought. He reached for his pouch and pulled a dark stone.

Black agatee. A type of stone that the Dark order was desperately in search for. More than a few hundred man were deployed with the mission to acquire these type of stones. Of course details as of what is the stone for and why was of such importance was kept secret, a mere "errand boy" like him would never know what the higher ups were thinking.

Reiner lay on the bed and fell sleep. It was the first time he had slept since he acquired the stone three days ago.

The sound of a hammer strongly pounding on metal woke him up. The sun light was now almost gone and he could smell food all across the room. He stood up and picked his belongings and walked out of the room. He had slept for about four hours, it hadn't been much, but somehow he felt like he was ten years younger.

The kid who had ripped clothes and had stains of coal all over himself was now clean. He was wearing a gray shirt and black pants, all his skin now clean revealed a pale color that turned into a tan from his elbows down.

"The food is ready" the kid said and walked towards the table next to the window. Reiner studied the kids way of walking and his muscles movements. Despite of being young his shoulders were broad enough to understand that he was probably a blacksmith apprentice.

"Do you work with metal?" Reiner asked as he sat down. In front of him some rice and beff was cooked nicely with some steamed vegetables, nothing luxurious but it made his stomach growl.

"Yes, I also do the cleaning and the cooking" the kid answered.

"You seem very competent" Reiner said while took the fork and began to eat.

"We'll, it's all thanks to the old man" he said while giving an innocent smile.

"He seems like a good grandfather"Reiner replied. The kid shook his head.

"Oh no. He took me in a few years ago. I was severely injured by some red haired wolves. He saved me and bought me with him to the village. Unfortunately I don't remember anything before that". The kid explained. Although he seemed very calm, Reiner could notice the pain and doubts behind the kids eyes.

"Well, everything happens for a reason, you're lucky to have someone to look after you" he said" What's your name?

"Legion, that's the name the old man gave me"

"An inspiring name" Reiner said.

After that they chatted for a little bit. Soon the moon was out and all the live disappeared from the streets. Reiner looked through the window and a black owl flew right in front of him. The owl carried a written letter from the Dark Order.

Before Reiner could open the letter he heard a scream echoing through the town. It was the most painful noise he ever heard. Soon may guards appeared in front of the village entrance ready to fight.

"What is going on?" Reiner asked himself.

Reiner's sixth sense detected the change in the room's temperature. Immediately he unsheathed his sword. In the middle of the room the floor started to freeze and from the ice a man wearing a dark robe appeared. Reiner didn't know who he was, but clearly belonged to the Dark order.

"I've come to take the the stone" he said. The man extended his arm and opened his hand waiting for Reiner to give him the stone.

Reiner looked at the man's arm and noticed it was covered with the tattoos of many runes and magic circles. He was definitely a high ranked magician, probably one of the best of the Order.

"Do you know what is happening out there?" Reiner asked while putting the stone in the other man's hand. The man took it and gave it a meticulous examination, while clearly ignoring Reiner's question.

After a couple long seconds the man finally put the stone inside his pouch and slowly pulled a dagger.

"The beginning of the end" he said. Reiner felt the room getting even colder. His eyes did not see the dagger approaching to his face however his countless encounters with death had sharpened a sixth sense that allowed him to avoid the attack, this one gracing his left cheek opening a deep wound.

Immediately Reiner activated a spell that swallowed the room with the brightest light. The man now unable to see his target heard the sound of a window braking, Reiner had jumped from the room towards the village empty streets.

The mysterious man smile while looking his pray running away, but the smile did not last long as he saw that he no longer held the stone.

In the meantime, downstairs in the workshop, the sound of metal was as alive as ever. The temperature rising by the second and drops of sweat evaporating after touching any surface. Legion was working on his sword. But soon his focus shifted as he heard a big explosion. He turned and the old man that was taking a nap was now standing.

"Do not go outside this room" he said. The old man took a sword and walked upstairs.

Legion had known the old man for about a decade now. He knew when he was lying or angry or when he wanted to give complement but didn't want to be looked like he was happy. But even him couldn't express what the old man eyes were saying.

Then, he heard the sound of a broken window. He ignore the old man's order and ran upstairs. He pass through the small hallway and went to the front of the store just to see a wild fire eating all the buildings that formed the village.

Legion grabbed a sword and ran outside, his eyes couldn't believe what he was seeing. Countless people screaming and running while being killed by things he couldn't see, flames eating away the structures while permeating the air with the smell of burned pine. The sky cloaked by a layer of smoke that increased its density by the second.

But what caught Legion's attention was the man with the dark clothes. His hands were shining a blue light and, they were emitting waves of coldness that could be felt even through all the fire surrounding him. On the other side the guy who was eating dinner just a few moments ago was covered in blood, his clothes torn apart and had one arm ripped off.

"Give the stone back" they man in the dark clothes screamed.

"You'll have to come for it" Reiner answered

And a fierce battle begun. The dark clothed man started to shoot what it looked like arrows of ice relentlessly, meanwhile Reiner blocked them with his sword while charging forward, the mysterious man put his hands together and a wave of coldness blew strongly, Legion was thrown back inside the house through the window, however Reiner had jumped and casted a blinding spell.

"That won't work twice" the man screamed while a half igloo formed around him.

Reiner appeared behind but the man predicted it and they begun to exchange blows with an unbelievable speed and precision, the metal sparked after every contact, and sound of the impact made very clear that one mistake could mean the death of either of them.

Reiner was slowly pushed back, with every second that passed his defense was being breached until his sword flew off his hand.

"You're pretty good for being a dog" the man said "No wonder they wanted you dead"

Before Reiner could ask the reason behind the orders, a ball of fire hit the man making him switch his attention.

Reiner knew this was his only opportunity, he took this chance and hid himself with the environment while erasing his presence.

Legion, stood back up and came outside again. This time only the mysterious man was there. He was screaming and cussing while his magic flew in every direction. One of the arrows graced Legion's right shoulder making him scream in pain. This caught the attention of the man who didn't lose time and aimed multiple arrows towards Legion. Just when he thought he was gonna die the old man appeared and cut one of the mysterious man's arms.

"I told you to stay down there" he screamed.

Before Legion could reply the old man activated a rune on the floor. Within seconds Legion was covered by light and when he opens his eyes he was back at the forge. He tried to go back upstairs but as soon as he approached them, they disappeared.