Martin woke up one morning at an inn that he had been staying at for at least three days while he stayed in the city Greyspire. He was there to find some wood and other supplies that he can take to his home and add an extra room for his oldest daughter to stay in. He had two daughters that shared a room and he thought it was about time that they had separate rooms. He was on his way home when he reached the edge of the forest where his house resides. There was a man standing and staring out at the city.

“Excuse me!” the man yelled at Martin as he came to a stop. “Is that city right there Greyspire?” He pointed at the city where Martin had just come from.

Martin looked back and then looked at him, “Yes. That is Greyspire.”

The man sighs in relief. “That's good. I'm not really from this part of the country.” He pulls out a box that emits a strange light. After a minute or two, the light starts to form shapes until two red dots start blinking. Martin looked at the light mesmerized by it.

“Is that Greyspire?” He said as he noticed the shapes look like the buildings in the city.

“I believe it is. I also believe that I am a few days early.” the man said with disappointment in his tone.

Martin sat up on his cart and looked forward at his path to his home and family. He turned back toward the man, “You said you're not from around here, right?”

The man turned his head and nodded. “Yeah. That's right. I'm new here.”

“Well, if you haven't eaten yet, would you like to join me and my family this evening for dinner?”

The man looked at his map and then the light faded as he placed it back into his pocket. “Sure. I could eat. What are we having?”

He held out a hand for Martin to help him up. Martin grabs it and pulls him up to the best next to him. “I'm not sure. But my wife is an excellent cook.”

“I've dabbled as a cook before.” the man looked back in the cart and noticed all the wood. “You building something?”

“Yeah. I have a couple of daughters that are sharing a room and one of them has gotten old enough for a room of her own.”

“Well, I've done some carpentry work too.”

Martin looked at the man and realized that this man looked like he was no more than twenty-five years old “I haven't even introduced myself, my apologies. I'm Martin.” He held his hand out.

“My name is Varkan.” The man grabbed his hand and shook it.

“Pardon me for asking this, but how old are you?”

“I’m twenty-seven. Some people say that I seem or act older. I like to say that my mind is older than my body.” Varkan chuckled a little.

Martin smiled, “I can definitely see it. Well, it's good to meet you. I'm sure my wife and children are going to love you.”

“I'm sure I’m going to love them as well.”

Martin and Varkan continued to talk all the way back to his home.

--

Abigail was sitting outside on the front porch of her home. Her daughter Rose was helping her older daughter Evelyn with the laundry and chores. Abigail’s husband had been gone almost four days to Greyspire to get the supplies they needed for their home. Abigail stood up when she noticed her husband's cart coming down the road.

“Girls, dad’s home.”

The two girls looked up, stood up, and ran to the road to see their father's cart getting closer and closer. As soon as they could see their father, they started smiling and ran back to their mother. The cart pulled onto the path that led to the steps of the house. As soon as it came to a stop, Martin hopped down onto the ground and ran to his family. He hugged and picked up Rose as she was running towards him. He carried her to Abigail.

“I managed to get everything we needed for Evelyn’s room. I'm going to start working on it tomorrow.”

Abigail smiled at him and then she noticed the man getting off the cart and walking toward them.

“Who is this?”

Martin put Rose down and turned around.

“This is Varkan. I met him on the way home. He's not from around here and I invited him to come and eat with us. He hasn't had a decent meal in a while.”

Varkan put his hand out, “It's a pleasure to meet you. Martin told me so much about you on the way here.”

Abigail shook his hand, “Good things I hope.” She turned her head towards Martin and then back at Varkan.

“He mentioned that you were an excellent cook.”

“I do take pride in my cooking skills.”

“Well, if you don't mind, could I use your kitchen and cook us all a good meal? I know my way around a kitchen too and it's the least I can do for your hospitality.”

“I don't mind. It would give me a chance to clean up some. Girls, will you help Mr. Varkan to the kitchen.” She turned toward Martin, “I need to speak to you.”

Abigail grabbed Martin’s arm and dragged him over to the house.

“Ow! What do you need to tell me that involves pulling my arm off?”

“How can you bring him here?”

“What do you mean?”

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

“You know nothing about this man and you bring him here. Did you think this through?”

“Yes I did. All I could think about was when I was a kid and your father let me stay with y'all when he didn't know who I was and I was starving. I looked a lot worse than he does.”

Abigail got quiet and looked at him.

“What?”

She smiled. “You were always the sentimental type.”

Martin kissed her and they went inside their home.

--

Varkan had been waiting for a meal like this for longer than he had wanted. He, Martin, Abigail, and their two daughters were all sitting at the table in the dining room to eat the dinner that he made for everyone. He couldn't help but smile the entire time.

“So Varkan, tell me about yourself.” Abigail said to him while helping Rose with her plate.

“What would you like to know?”

“Martin said you don't have any family, is that true?”

“Yeah. I mean, I have brothers and sisters, but I don't have a wife or children of my own.”

“What about your parents?”

“I have a father of sorts.”

“Of sorts?”

“Yeah. He's not the one who fathered me, but he's the one who has made me who I am today.”

“Well, he definitely did a good job. This food is amazing.” Martin had said with a mouthful of meat.

“I wouldn't have been able to make it if you didn't have this home.”

Varkan looked around, the inside of the house had lights in the ceilings of each room. The kitchen had a stove as well as a refrigerator in the corner.

“How did you make all of this?” Varkan asked Martin.

“Well, when I first started making the house, there was a group of dwarves in the city. While I was there, I had been talking to them and one of them offered to give my house power when I finished it. He even showed me how to do it myself if I ever wanted to change the house.”

“Ah. This is dwarven technology. That's truly impressive.”

“Thank you.”

Rose and Evelyn had finished eating their plates and started digging into more food for seconds. Varkan clapped his hands and stands up.

“Well guys, I believe it’s time.”

“Time for what?” Martin swallowed his food and looked up at him.

Varkan smiled at him and spoke in a deeper voice. “Time for my dinner.”

At that moment, Martin realized that he hadn't seen Varkan take a single bite. He looked down at his plate and he hadn't even put food on it.

Varkan held his hands over the table and spoke again, “Immobilize.”

A wave of energy came from his hand a washed over everyone at the table. Martin tried to speak but couldn't move his mouth. He couldn't move his head. The only part he could move was his eyes.

“Now I'm sure you're confused as to what's happening. Well, to clarify, you and your family are currently paralyzed due to a spell that I just cast on all of you. It just makes it easier if you don't move.”

Varkan started walking around the table towards Martin.

“Now you're probably wondering why I'm doing this or even what it is that I'm actually doing. And I'm more than willing to explain.”

Varkan kept walking, past Martin, and walked on the side Rose and Evelyn were on.

“Now, I told you that I was hungry. And from the moment I met you, I knew that you were the one. Then you mentioned you had a family and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to finally get my fill.”

Varkan grabbed a cup off the table and drank some of the water that was provided for the meal.

“You see, I hate people like you and your family. And it's not cause you did something specific or anything like that. It's because you are too” he took another drink, “happy for my liking. I can't stand it. Seeing people as happy as you makes me want to stab something, or someone, over and over until it's gone.”

Varkan stood directly behind Abigail and leaned on her chair while making eye contact with Martin.

“If you would've just come home, it wouldn't have come to this. But I have to thank you. Without you, I would be starving for another day and I wouldn't be at my full strength for the job I have to do.”

Varkan turned back around and walked until he was directly behind Rose and Evelyn where he stopped.

“I can't stand this. Turn your head, Martin.”

Varkan snapped his fingers and Martin’s head turned with a crack in his neck as he moans in pain.

“There we go. I just wanted you to watch this. One of my favorite meals is a nice, crisp soul. Especially after they've just eaten. If you eat the soul after the person eats, you can taste a hint of what they just ate.”

Varkan clapped his hands together.

“Now, without further ado, let's begin. I think we should start with the youngest and work our way up. They did eat the most and I can't resist the flavor.”

Varkan looked at Martin.

“I'll be honest, I will enjoy this.”

Varkan placed his hand on the top of Rose’s head. He leaned down and as he got closer, the corners of his mouth started to crack. His jaw started to drop lower than a normal jaw could and all that could be seen where his mouth used to be was complete darkness.

Rose started screaming in agony. It was a muffled scream since she couldn't move her jaw. The sound accompanying her scream was a whistling sound. Her screaming lasted for what felt like an eternity for those who had not choice but to watch. Her screaming started to go quiet and as it did, her eyes rolled upwards and into her skull. Varkan stood up and as he did, Rose’s body went limp. Varkan patted his stomach and grabbed a napkin off the table as his face began to close. He wiped his lips with the napkin.

“That really hit the spot. Again, thank you, Martin. I couldn't have done this if it wasn't for you.”

He smiled as he turned to Evelyn who had already started screaming in fear.

“Don’t you worry. This will be over for you quickly. Maybe too quickly.”

His face began to open as he started to consume the soul of his next victim.

--

Varkan was sitting outside in the rocking chair that Martin had built for his wife on the porch of their home. He watched as the sun began to show over the horizon and as it did, he began to speak.

“It shouldn't be too much longer now. With all the souls that I have been gathering, you will have enough power to fight that blasted wizard. He’ll pay for what he did.”

Varkan stood up and walked off the porch to the ground and turned around. He could see the four lifeless, soulless bodies through the window. He pulled the box back out that began to glow and form the land around him. He looked for the red dots and saw that they were closer to the city of Greyspire.

“I better get going. I have to get something and once I do, I'll be able to get you even more power.”

He placed the box back into his robe and he raised his hand. A red flame formed in the palm of his hand. He threw the flame at the house, setting the once happy home ablaze. He smiled and turned around and started walking back to the city.

“Your time to reign and spread evil will come. Until then, I'll snuff out every bit of light that I can. Until your arrival, father.”