David, groaning as he pushed himself up from beneath a pile of debris. Thankfully, none of the fallen rocks had caused any serious injuries, though his body ached from the impact. As he dusted himself off and looked around, David realized he had been trapped. The collapse had formed a box-like chamber of rubble around him, effectively sealing him inside. The jagged edges of the ruins loomed overhead, threatening to collapse further if he wasn’t careful.
Through the cracks in the debris, faint sounds of battle drifted in - clashing swords, blasts of magic, and the screams of those caught in the chaos. The distant noise urged David into action. He started to carefully clear his way out, moving cautiously so as not to cause more of the broken stone to fall and bury him alive. Every movement was precise, though his impatience grew with each second, knowing something massive was unfolding outside.
After painstaking effort, David finally squeezed through a small gap in the ruins, emerging from the rubble and climbing onto a higher section of the collapsed mansion. What met his eyes was a scene of utter chaos.
In the distance, the towering shadow knight swung its massive sword with terrifying ease, cleaving through armored adventurers and guards as if they were made of paper. Some tried to stand their ground, while others hurled themselves desperately at the creature, their blades shattering against its thick, black armor. Magic spells - fireballs, lightning bolts, and ice shards - were flung at the monster from afar, but none seemed to pierce its dark, hulking form. Archers stationed farther back loosed volley after volley of arrows, but each one either glanced off the knight’s armor or was swallowed by the swirling shadows that clung to the beast.
The battlefield was strewn with bodies - adventurers, guards, and even some of the mansion’s furniture and decorations, all now shattered and strewn across the courtyard. Smoke hung in the air from the still-settling dust of the collapsed mansion.
David scanned the scene, his eyes narrowing as he spotted two figures huddled near the back of the courtyard, close to the mansion’s outer wall. From this distance, it was hard to make out their faces clearly, but he knew these had to be the nobles. They were surrounded by what remained of their guards and some of the surviving adventurers, all of whom stood trembling but holding their positions.
"I need to get closer," David muttered to himself, realizing that whatever was happening centered around those nobles. They had to be connected to this attack somehow.
He descended from the pile of ruins carefully, keeping low and moving closer to the nobles, using the broken terrain as cover. Each step brought him nearer to the source of the devastation - the towering knight and its commanding figure, the woman with long, dust-colored hair, whose mere presence radiated danger.
David moved closer, heart pounding, as he heard the woman’s rage-filled screams echo across the battlefield. Her dark green eyes flared with fury as she stood atop the monstrous knight, her hand gripping the creature’s armor like she was ready to unleash more destruction at any moment.
Below her, Roderick and Edvard cowered inside Edvard’s magical shield dome, their last line of defense. As the monster loomed over them, its enormous sword raised high, David could see the desperation in Roderick’s eyes. The noble screamed at the woman, his voice breaking, "What have we done to deserve this?!"
The woman’s expression twisted with rage as she repeated his words, her voice trembling with raw emotion. "What have you done?" she spat, her voice rising. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS DESTROYED MY HOME! KILLED MY LOVED ONES! AND YOU STILL DARE TO ASK WHY THIS IS HAPPENING TO YOU?"
Her shout reverberated through the crumbling mansion grounds, and with a simple command, the monster began pounding its massive sword against Edvard's magic shield. The dome shook under the pressure, cracks beginning to form with each devastating blow. It was only a matter of time before the shield would shatter.
David knew he had to act fast. Without thinking, he stepped out from behind the ruins and shouted, “Wait!”
The woman’s head snapped toward him, her eyes filled with anger and suspicion. “Are you here to save these wretched nobles?” she asked, her tone filled with venom. The towering knight momentarily paused its relentless assault, though its blade was still poised to strike.
David shook his head, raising his hands slightly in a gesture of peace. “That depends... on what they say to my questions.”
The woman’s dark green eyes narrowed, but after a moment, she relented, her voice cold and detached. “Fine. Ask what you will, but you’d better be quick. This shield won’t hold much longer.” Behind her, the knight resumed its pounding, each strike causing more cracks to spider across Edvard’s magical barrier.
David turned his attention to Roderick, whose face was pale with fear. "Tell me your full names," David said firmly, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Roderick stared at him, his face contorted in disbelief. "What? Names? This isn't the time for questions! Help us!" He shouted, panic in his voice. But just then, another blow from the monster’s sword struck the shield, shaking the dome so violently that Roderick was silenced.
David repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Names. I won't help you until I know who you are."
Roderick, glancing at the increasingly fragile shield, answered hastily. “I’m Roderick Vallis, and he’s Edvard Thornwall!” He pointed at Edvard, who was too focused on maintaining the shield to speak.
David nodded, then asked, "How old are you?"
“What does that matter?!” Roderick shrieked, but seeing David’s unflinching expression, he reluctantly answered, "I’m fifty-five. Edvard’s fifty-six!"
David’s eyes flicked toward the cracks in the shield but pressed on, his questions coming more rapidly now. "Were the five other nobles, the ones who were killed by this same monster, friends of yours?"
Roderick hesitated but eventually nodded. "Yes, we were all close. We... we worked together."
The moment Roderick confirmed this, David’s expression darkened, fury simmering just beneath the surface. He clenched his fists but continued, his voice now edged with tension. “And how did you become nobles?”
Roderick’s face tightened with fear and anger, and he paused before responding. “We were adventurers. A group. We saved a high nobleman’s life, and in return, he helped us rise in rank. We... did business with other nobles. Made enough wealth to buy our titles.”
David’s heartbeat quickened. He felt the familiar sting of buried memories clawing their way to the surface. “What was the name of your adventurers’ group?” he asked, his voice low, steady, but filled with growing menace.
Roderick, confused by the sudden intensity in David’s tone, stammered, “We... we were called the One-Eyed Snake. Why does that matter?”
David’s blood ran cold as the name confirmed his worst suspicions. His body tensed with barely contained rage as memories flashed in his mind - the nightmare of his village burning, the screams of his people as the One-Eyed Snake adventurers tore through his home, the charred remains of everything he had loved. He had survived by a mere stroke of luck, buried beneath rubble as the flames consumed his village. The deep scar across his back, still aching after all these years, was a constant reminder of that night.
His voice quivered with rage as he spoke, "You... you and your friends were responsible for destroying my village."
Roderick’s eyes widened in shock, but before he could respond, the magic shield around them finally gave way with a loud crack. The massive knight wasted no time, its enormous sword descending in a brutal arc. Edvard didn’t even have time to scream before the blade cleaved him in half, his body falling to the ground in two lifeless pieces, blood pooling around the wreckage of his torso.
Roderick screamed in terror, scrambling backward as Edvard’s body hit the ground. His face pale and slick with sweat, he crawled desperately toward David, begging incoherently. “Please! Please, help me! I didn’t mean to... We didn’t mean to! It was... it was so long ago! I’m sorry! For your village! For everything! Please... forgive me!”
Tears streamed down Roderick’s face as he groveled, but before he could crawl any further, the giant knight grabbed him by the legs, lifting him effortlessly into the air. Dangling upside down, Roderick screamed in panic, flailing helplessly as the blood rushed to his head.
The woman stepped forward, her dark green eyes still burning with righteous anger, but now tinged with curiosity as she looked at David. "So, you’re also a victim of their massacres?" she asked, her voice cold yet softening slightly. "If you want, I’ll give him to you. You can have your revenge, for your village."
David stood still, his breathing heavy, emotions warring within him. He unsheathed his sword, the blade gleaming in the dim light as he approached the upside-down Roderick. Roderick’s frantic begging grew louder, his voice cracking with desperation.
“Please, no! Don’t do it! I beg you! I’ll give you anything: money, power! I can-”
David raised his sword, his grip tightening. He paused for a long, tense moment, the blade hovering just above Roderick's trembling body. With a sudden swing, he brought the sword down - only to stop just inches from Roderick’s neck.
Roderick’s eyes widened in disbelief, his entire body shaking in fear. He had already wet himself, the stench filling the air as he sobbed uncontrollably. “Thank you! Thank you for sparing me!” he choked out between ragged breaths, his voice breaking.
But David’s face remained cold, and without looking at Roderick, he spoke in a low, disgusted tone. “I’m not sparing you... I just don’t want the blood of a pile of shit like you to dirty my sword.”
Roderick’s momentary relief quickly turned into horror. He looked up at David, his hope draining from his face. “W-what...?” he stammered, confused.
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David then glanced toward the woman, meeting her gaze. "I can only offer him a quick, painless death. That’s all I’m willing to give."
The woman, understanding what David meant, nodded slowly, a faint, cruel smile curving on her lips. She looked up at the towering knight and gave a simple command, “Tear him apart.”
The monster wasted no time. Roderick’s panicked pleas filled the air, his voice hoarse and pitiful as he begged for mercy, but there was no stopping the inevitable. With a swift motion, the knight ripped Roderick’s body in two, the sickening sound of tearing flesh and snapping bones echoing across the courtyard. Blood splattered across the ruins as his mangled remains were thrown aside like trash.
David stood silently, his eyes hard, though his grip on his sword loosened slightly. The woman, still calm and composed, stepped forward, her knight dissolving into shadow behind her. She commanded the monstrous figure to return to the darkness from which it came, and as her shadow expanded beneath her, the armored knight sank into it, disappearing completely.
For a long moment, the two of them stood there, the aftermath of the battle settling around them. The devastation was clear - bodies of adventurers, guards, and nobles alike littered the ground. But the tension between David and the woman hadn’t faded. They exchanged a look, one of mutual understanding, yet fraught with the weight of unspoken words.
Just as David opened his mouth to speak, the sound of approaching footsteps - city guards and reinforcements - echoed from the direction of the mansion’s main gate. They were closing in, and soon the grounds would be flooded with soldiers and adventurers, all seeking to apprehend whoever was responsible for this chaos.
David acted quickly. Without hesitation, he grabbed the woman’s wrist. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she didn’t resist as he knelt down, tracing a glowing circle into the ground with his hand. The circle began to hum with energy, ancient symbols forming along its edge, radiating a pale blue light.
The portal itself appeared as a pitch-black void at the center of the glowing circle, ringed with intricate symbols that pulsed with an otherworldly energy. The symbols seemed to shift and flicker, as if alive, casting an eerie glow in the dim surroundings.
Before the guards could arrive, David leaped into the portal, pulling the woman with him. The world warped and twisted around them as they disappeared, reappearing moments later in the quiet depths of a forest outside the city.
The portal closed behind them, and the two stood in the stillness of the woods, far from the chaos they had left behind. David let go of her wrist, stepping back as they both caught their breath.
The woman, still staring at him with those dark green eyes, finally spoke, her voice softer now. “Why did you save me?”
David exhaled, his expression hardening as he answered, “I didn’t save you.” He took a step back, keeping his eyes on her. “I pulled us out of that mess to avoid getting arrested, and to prevent any more innocent people from getting caught up in the bloodshed.”
The woman tilted her head slightly, her lips curving into a faint smile. “Innocent?” she echoed, her voice dripping with skepticism. “What do you mean by innocent?”
David’s gaze sharpened, his tone firm as he replied, “Don’t play dumb. I know the truth. That giant monster of yours only killed adventurers and guards who were criminals - murderers, thieves, scum. They were called ‘innocent’ because there wasn’t enough evidence to convict them, but you knew exactly who they were.” His eyes narrowed as he continued. “And the ones who hadn’t committed crimes? They’re still alive. Knocked out, sure, maybe with a few broken bones, but alive. Just like in the other attacks. You’re targeting specific people, and only the guilty die.”
The woman’s smile widened slightly, a glint of admiration in her expression. “Well, well… you’ve done your homework.” She took a step closer to David, folding her arms across her chest. “They don’t remember me because I used a special ritual. Not magic, not something traceable. A little trick to make sure no one knows who I am when the authorities come asking questions. It’s why none of the survivors ever remembered seeing me.” She glanced back toward the direction of the city, then added casually, “Don’t worry, the ones from today will forget me too.”
David remained silent for a moment, studying her closely. His attention then shifted to the trees, through which he could faintly see the city walls. The gates were barely visible, but he could make out the shapes of creatures moving in the distance - an army of ground monsters retreating into the forest. He looked back at the city’s walls, noticing they hadn’t sustained much damage despite the chaos.
His eyes narrowed. “So you’re a witch, then?”
The woman’s smile faded slightly, and she raised an eyebrow at his blunt question. “What makes you think that?”
David’s tone was calm but firm as he answered. “The monster attack on the front gates of the city - that was your doing too, wasn’t it?” He didn’t wait for her to respond. “Too many monsters, all of them from different species that don’t normally cooperate with each other, suddenly teaming up to attack the city, without killing a single human in the process? And no flying monsters? It was controlled, deliberate. Someone didn’t want anyone else to get hurt.” He stared at her, his suspicion clear. “Am I right?”
The woman let out a soft laugh, shaking her head slightly in amusement. “Well, you caught me.” She gave a small shrug, as if it were no big deal. “Yes, I orchestrated the monster attack. But I didn’t want unnecessary bloodshed. The city guards and adventurers, at least most of them aren’t innocent. They’ve all done their fair share of harm. But civilians? No need to get them involved.”
As David sat down on the log, he glanced at the woman, his expression softened, though the weight of his past still lingered in his eyes. "I'm David," he said, his voice calm but carrying a quiet intensity. Then, after a brief pause, he motioned for her to join him. "Tell me your story."
The woman remained silent for a moment, studying him carefully. Finally, she sat down on a nearby log, her earlier harshness fading. "Alice," she said softly, the act of revealing her name seeming to strip away some of her defensive edge.
David nodded. “Alice. Tell me how this all began.”
Alice awoke, disoriented, her small body aching as if she’d been dragged through a storm. Her head throbbed with pain, and every breath felt heavy, as though the air around her was weighed down by something oppressive. The room was cold, the walls made of dark, unwelcoming stone. A single candle flickered in the corner, casting strange, twisting shadows on the walls that made everything feel like a nightmare.
Her mind was a haze, but the terror came rushing back, hitting her all at once like a wave. The river. The cold water dragging her under. John trying to pull her back to safety. John! Her heart raced as she scrambled to sit up, the blanket around her falling away. Where was John?
Before she could make sense of anything, the door creaked open slowly, and Alice’s breath caught in her throat. A woman entered—older, with silver hair that shimmered in the dim light. There was something strange about her eyes. They gleamed with an intensity that made Alice feel both afraid and curious at the same time.
The woman took a step closer, her long dress trailing the floor behind her. “You’re awake,” she said, her voice soft but with an eerie calmness that didn’t quite match the kindness Alice was desperate to hear. “You’ve been asleep for a long time.”
Alice blinked, trying to force the fog from her mind. Her small voice wavered as she spoke, the fear evident in every word. “Where am I? Where’s John? Is he okay?” Her bottom lip quivered, and she hugged her arms around her knees, trying to steady herself.
The woman tilted her head, watching Alice closely. “You’re in my home. It’s a safe place, child. As for your friend…” Her voice trailed off, and a faint, unreadable expression passed across her face. “He’s alive. For now.”
Alice’s heart dropped, her small hands gripping the edge of the blanket. “For now?” She slid off the bed, her feet touching the cold stone floor. Her legs were shaky, but she didn’t care. “What do you mean? Take me to him, please! I need to see him!”
After a long, uncomfortable pause, the woman nodded and gestured for Alice to follow. They walked down a narrow, dimly lit hallway, the stones beneath their feet rough and uneven. The air smelled musty, and Alice could hear her own breathing, loud in her ears. Her little hands trembled, but she tried to stay brave. She had to be brave for John.
When they finally entered the room at the end of the hall, Alice’s breath caught in her throat. In the center of the room was a large stone altar, and on it, lying so still, was John. His face was pale, his eyes closed, and his breathing was shallow, barely noticeable. He didn’t look like the strong, older boy she knew - he looked so small, so fragile.
“John!” Alice cried, rushing to his side. She grabbed his hand, her small fingers barely able to wrap around his. “John, wake up! Please, wake up!” Tears pricked at her eyes, but he didn’t move. He didn’t even open his eyes.
Alice turned to the woman, panic rising in her chest. “You have to help him! Please! He can’t die! You have to save him!”
The woman’s face remained calm, though there was something like pity in her eyes as she approached the altar. “I’m afraid it’s too late to save him, child. Not in the way you’re hoping.”
Alice shook her head frantically, refusing to believe it. “No, it’s not too late! It can’t be too late! You have to do something!”
The woman’s expression didn’t change, but her voice softened slightly. “I can do something. But it won’t be what you think.” She walked around the altar, her fingers brushing lightly over John’s forehead. “He’s dying. His body has endured too much. There’s only one way to keep him with you, but… he won’t be the same. He won’t be the John you knew.”
Alice’s heart felt like it was being squeezed in her chest. “What do you mean?” she whispered, barely able to get the words out.
The woman’s gaze was steady, almost too calm for the horror of what she was saying. “I can turn him into something else. He will live, but he will no longer be the boy you knew. He will be bound to my will, or yours, a protector... but with no thoughts, no feelings. Just a shell, following commands.”
Alice’s stomach churned. She didn’t fully understand everything the woman was saying, but she understood enough. John wouldn’t be John anymore. He would become… a monster. “No,” she whimpered, her voice small and broken. “I don’t want that. I just want John…”
Suddenly, John stirred, his hand weakly squeezing hers. His eyes fluttered open, but they were dim, the life slowly fading from them. “Alice…” His voice was barely a whisper, so faint she had to lean in close to hear him. “Let… her… do it. Please.”
Alice shook her head, her tears falling freely now. “No, John, I can’t. I don’t want you to be like that.”
John’s eyes met hers, and even in his weakened state, there was a determination in them, something fierce. “I… always… wanted to protect you,” he rasped. “I wasn’t strong enough before… but now… I can be. Let me… be your knight.”
Alice sobbed, her heart breaking. She wanted to scream, to tell him no, but when she looked into his eyes, she saw that he had already made up his mind. He wanted this. He wanted to protect her, even if it meant becoming something else.
She turned to the woman, her voice shaking. “Is there no other way?”
The woman shook her head solemnly. “This is the only way to keep him alive. But it’s not a life, child, not like you know.”
John’s hand slipped from hers, his breathing becoming more ragged. “Please… Alice… let me protect you.”
With a trembling breath, Alice nodded, her voice barely audible. “Okay… if this is what you want.”
The woman wasted no time. She drew strange symbols around the altar, and the air thickened with an unnatural energy. Alice stood back, horrified as John’s body began to glow. His small frame shook violently, his skin turning a sickly color as his form changed.
John’s body grew larger, more monstrous, his gentle face twisted into something terrifying. Dark, jagged armor formed over his body, conjured from the magic itself, fusing to his skin as he transformed. Alice wanted to look away, but couldn’t. Her best friend, the boy she loved like a brother, was gone - replaced by something monstrous and unrecognizable.
When it was over, Alice fell to her knees, sobbing uncontrollably. The creature that stood before her was John - yet it wasn’t. His eyes were empty, his mind no longer his own.
The woman approached her, placing a hand on her shoulder. “He will follow your commands now,” she said quietly. “He is yours to control.”
Alice looked up at her, her face streaked with tears, her young heart too overwhelmed to process the full weight of what had just happened. “Teach me,” she whispered, her voice fragile but filled with a growing resolve.
The woman raised an eyebrow. “Teach you?”
Alice’s fists clenched at her sides, her small voice hardening with each word. “Teach me everything you know. If I’m going to live in this world, I won’t be weak anymore. I won’t let anyone hurt us again.”
The woman studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Very well. But understand, this path is dangerous. It will consume you if you let it.”
Alice looked back at John - or what was left of him - and her voice came out cold, far older than her nine years. “I don’t care. I want revenge.”
And so began her dark journey, a path that led her to where she now sat, hardened and scarred, telling her story to David, who listened in silence, the weight of her words pressing down on him.