Shu's Change

The clanking of heavy armor echoing through a town, houses ablaze all around with villagers huddled in the middle of the town. 

"P-please spare us..we only went against the king because he sent knights to kidnap young men and women..we only wanted our families back." The elder of the village said weakly

Shu stands there staring down at the weak villagers who no longer have weapons and are frail. Shu's armor was drenched in blood, his sword covered in blood no longer able to see the blade itself. He stares blankly; there is no glint in his eyes as a yellow marking shaped like an X inside of a circle. The villagers get up and begin to all run away, numbering seventy left. Shu brings his sword down on the elder, cutting him in half cleanly as he looks between the two halves of his body Shu sees them running.

"Demon-God Style: Ruined Torment"

Shu dashes forward red blades circling around him widely cutting the slower villagers into pieces, their blood flying everywhere as he slashes a young woman's right hip cutting straight through, the red blades cut her further, taking her arms and head off as he dashes past. Shu continues attacking, slashing, cutting and mauling the villagers as they run and scream his eyes are dead as he does this.

"SAVE US!!" The last five villagers scream as they reach the outskirts of the village while being on the road

Shu walks slowly towards them raising his sword high to the right and says coldly,

"Herlin Strike"

He swings his sword to the left from the right decapitating them all as a blue aura follows after his strike blowing their bodies away and into the woods their blood flying into his face covering most of his face but his left eye as he stares out blankly, the village burning behind him.

His eyes slowly begin to have a glint in them again, yet are less there.

"It..wasn't me.. I didn't slaughter them." He says scared, staring out blankly tears forming under his eyes as he slowly walks down the road back towards the fort, his armor clanking behind him.

At the fort, Tatsumi and Suzumi begin to prepare to leave for the castle climbing to the carriage. They begin to exit the fort's gates as Shu slowly stumbles past the carriage drenched in blood.

"STOP THE CARRIAGE" Tatsumi screamed out

"Shu.. are you okay?" Tatsumi said staring at him

"Ah.. Tatsumi it's you, yeah I am fine!" Shu said with a slight smile

Shu continues into the fort as the commander stands there waiting for him leading him towards his quarters. The carriage takes off towards the capital.

"Was that your friend?" Suzumi asked softly

"Yes, he seems different though, I'm worried about what happened to him, did you see his armor? He was covered in blood." Tatsumi said worriedly

"If he's anything like you, he will be fine." Suzumi said putting her hand on his shoulder reassuring him.

"Shu, you have another mission directly from the king, go and kill the man accused of plotting against the king, it's his direct order." The commander says sternly.

The marking appears on him again as his eyes lose the color in them and speaks coldly,

"Yes commander, as the king commands."

Shu drinks a recovery potion and begins to walk down the road quickly towards the town the man is said to be living in.

 Tatsumi and Suzumi arrive at the capital once again he exits helping her down gently as they enter the main hall where the king is sitting in his throne, 

"Ah yes my beautiful wife to be, and you must be the aspiring knight, Tatsumi!" the king smiles

"My king, I am here to serve." Tatsumi bows before him

"Very good, Protect her with your life."

"I will, your highness." Tatsumi says looking over at Suzumi gently,

Tatsumi walks over to the side where the royal knights are as two soldiers lead him into a different room to get his new armor on and see his new sword.

"My King, thank you for everything you are doing for me." Suzumi smiles at him softly

"Of course it is but the bare minimum for my queen." The king responds eagerly, staring at her.

TWO WEEKS LATER

Suzumi is walking around the garden full of flowers as Tatsumi trails behind her walking slowly admiring this beautiful woman looking at the flowers so softly and lovingly. Tatsumi smiles beneath his golden helmet, his gold and white armor glistening from the sun while he has his left hand on the golden lion pummel on his sword. 

"You don't need to always be that far behind me" Suzumi says turning around facing him.

"It is for your protection, my queen." Tatsumi responds softly

Suzumi turns back walking out of the garden walking towards the city gates. Tatsumi follows behind her keeping his eyes open for any attempted attack, after a long walk down the main road they reach the gate as they exit she walks towards the woods. 

"I have something I want to show you, it's something I found while I was creeping around with the bandits!" Suzumi said to him softly smiling widely.

"Yes, my queen." 

Suzumi grabs his right hand and begins to run forwards deeper into the woods until they reach an opening there, resides a small lake with animals all around it and nice flat land a little way away from the shore of the lake.

"Thank you for not killing me, nor telling the king about me. When we are alone I want you to call me Suzumi, please." Suzumi's eyes softened while looking at him. Tatsumi's heart beating quickly before he grabs her hand,

"I fell for you when I saw you in the woods, yet, you are to be the kings wife. I can not do anything like that." Tatsumi said his eyes looking downwards.

"I am only his for as long as the alliance is needed, my mother will come back for me and break off the deal before I am even wed." Suzumi says softly

"Then until you are a free, we must not do anything." Tatsumi says calmly

"I want you to teach me to wield a sword in our free time, I can teach you to be better with magic as well in return. I am quite skilled in magic but poor in swordsmanship." Suzumi said confidently

"Very well, Suzumi." Tatsumi said happily

ONE WEEK LATER

The king and and future queen are eating as the great halls golden doors begin to enter, in walks a battle torn knight in damages armor stained in dirt and blood his helmet showing cracks where swords and axes hit him his armor clanking as he walks towards the end of the table and kneels down.

"This is Cadet Shu, The great warrior who has been taking the tasks of killing your enemies my king." said a young guard

"You are the one huh? I wish to grant you a reward."

Tatsumi stares at the wounded knight covered in blood and dirt thinking to himself,

"That cannot be Shu, his aura is far too different."

"AH I KNOW!! I will grant you the second greatest armor in my treasury, The Dark Knight's set, it is a greatly cursed set of armor which takes a toll on ones mind and body, however, if you are able to withstand it for the most part, the armor is incredibly tough and boosts all of your abilities. Will you accept and take on the role of Knight Commander, The Dark Knight Shu."

"I will, my king." Shu's voice was cold and tired

Shu removes his current helmet as he walks towards the stairs that lead to the dungeon where the treasury is. His eyes have no glint in them anymore. Shu returns to the room the next day as everyone is eating standing behind the king wearing the Black demonic armor, the helmets dark horns, the shoulder plates pointed up the chest plate spiked and leaking a dark black aura. 

"Tatsumi! Shu was your comrade in company five correct? Did you know that he took over three hundred missions to kill bandits and squash rebellions along with monster hunts in this short amount of time?" The king said laughing, smiling brightly.

"Yes, my king, He was my comrade." Tatsumi said looking down softly 

"Tatsumi I have formed a unit for you, you will take these men to kill bandits near the whispering woods, they have been ravaging small towns and it is looking bad for us, please go take them out and return swiftly."

"My king, I don't think it's the greatest idea to send a strong force into the whispering woods, there have been rumors of that place taking large forces of people and they just vanish in the woods, I beg you to reconsider."

The king clenches his fist staring at Tatsumi veins bulging around his forehead and speaks angrily,

"Are you calling my orders foolish, Tatsumi, are you saying I am making a mistake here?"

"No, my king, I will lead your men as you wish."

"Good." The king releases his fist and calms down, resuming his meal.

Tatsumi looks over at Shu who is staring at the gates as if there is no life inside of him anymore. Tatsumi lowers his head sadly and sighs under his breath.