“For millennia, the large majority of humanity knew only peace.

It was on the shoulders of the few remaining imperial legions that our empire once again flourished. Our way of life was upheld by the riches from other planes of existence; to some, we had become the very thing we fought to be freed from.

Despite this, we once again started traversing the stars with the spirit of explorers, not liberators or conquerors.

The universe was vast, and our little part of it had room for a civilization that was a thousand times larger, as we knew from once having inhabited most of it.

While the core of the fleet would remain military, with the loss of so many titans, the focus shifted to diplomacy, trade and learning.

To our surprise, we found there were imperial colonies out here that had never been attacked or hit by the eradication weaponry of the unknown invaders.

The more advanced colonies were asked to vote if they wished to become part of the empire. The rest were left either alone to develop or fail until they reached a level of development that allowed them to traverse the stars themselves.

It was a good time, a time of peace, but a few of us knew times of peace never lasted and prepared accordingly in the shadows.”

- Elistar Iscariot, Grand Magister during the second Kingfisher dynasty.

I was terrified; my spirit was attempting to stand against a hurricane, and there was nowhere to shelter. I was utterly alone, with no one to lean on and nothing I could hide behind; not even a sliver of hope remained; only pure spite against going into the endless unknown without a fight was keeping me bound to this plane.

For a minute or a hundred years, I stood there, getting flayed by this incomprehensible bright power, slicing deep wounds into my spirit.

As I was contemplating the futility of my existence, the pulse of something else came up my left arm, a cry for anything. A cry for…help

With a new purpose, there was new hope. There was something else out there.

Frantically reaching out, I tried finding the connection again, but it was so small and too weak. My fumbling search only seemed to force it away.

Despair started building in my heart again as I looked out among the emptiness, searching for the minuscule thread of someone else.

Then it was there again. Gently, I entwined myself around it and followed the delicate thread back to its source.

Once I was there, I felt the familiarity at once.

“Sabina?”

“Alucard! Where are you? Where am I?”

Great question, but one thing the connection tho Sabina brought me was my memories, and I knew it had only been seconds, not years and decades.

“At a guess, I am right beside you…or on top of you, depending on what direction we fell.”

“What!”

“Think! We are not here. Not really. Remember the Naga sending out an orb of power through the portal? I think it scrambled our spirits enough to lose the connection to our bodies for a short time. Powerful as that orb was, it was not even close enough to permanently sever a spirit from the body. We should, in fact, be fine as soon as our bodies regain consciousness…hopefully.”

“Hopefully? Was this what she meant when she said she wanted to send us something to remember us by?”

“Well, I can't be fully certain until we regain consciousness, can I? I doubt it. I think our spirits getting scrambled was only an unlucky side effect. The pulse would have traveled across the kingdom. Damn, it could very well have traveled around the world, and we will be caught in it again when it returns.”

“So, what do we do then?”

“Wait. Unless someone finds and kills our bodies, we should be fine. Can't really do much about it either way.”

So we did, and we talked. I learned more about her upbringing and decided I was immensely grateful not to be born in the empire.

She found the freedom I grew up with to be so strange. It took her a while to come to grips with not being lashed for failing to live up to a tutor's expectations or failing at a weapons sequence more than once.

I tried reminding her that I was also a colossal asshole because of the very same upbringing.

“I doubt a colossal asshole would have called themselves that Alucard. I also doubt that people would seek out your company if you were one, and finally, I severely doubt you would have bothered saving me if you were one.”

I didn't have much of an answer to that, so I just existed together with Sabina, enjoying the company. Not being lost in my own self-doubt and fears.

Then things started spinning as if we were caught in a drain.

“I'm letting go now. We don't want to get parts of our spirit mixed together, trust me. Just hold on. Everything should be back to normal…as normal as anything has been in short order. ”

I felt her holding on as I let go, but before I could shake her off, she finally did let go.

Opening my eyes, I gently drew my head back from the soft pillow I was resting my face on.

“Will you get off me?”

She didn't have to sound that annoyed.

“Just a minute. My head is still spinning.”

The next thing I knew, I felt her legs flexing, and I was lying on my back on the cold, hard stone floor. The pieces of rock poking into my back were decidedly not helping the experience. Terrible accommodations; would not visit again.

Sabina, now sitting on me and looking far too pleased with herself, said.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“You are right. It is much more comfortable when someone else has to lie on the rocks. Now, what was it you were saying? Just a minute?”

“Fine. Fine. I'll get up. We should probably get away like thieves in the night anyway. Don't want to get caught up in any more silliness. Will you get off me?”

“No, it is comfortable.”

Grumbling, I tried warming my way out, but she had me in a thigh lock, so I was just about to give up when I felt a new power building from where the battlefield was.

It was a familiar one; the power of Sir Michael spread across the cavern, bringing hope and reinvigorating those who fought for humanity, or that was the feeling it left when the force passed over me.

Well, I had fought for humanity longer than anyone here, so I think I was entitled to the boost.

Sabina finally stood up while gazing at where the battle should be fought, but no sounds were coming from there, nor was there any new buildup of power.

I was just waiting for her to suggest we investigate when the cavern started shaking.

In the distance, I could make out a pillar spanning from the floor to the ceiling, shaking before the gigantic piece of rock finally fell over. It felt like the world was holding its breath as the first pillar fell, and when it finally hit the ground, the dust cloud rose like a mushroom before it settled like a cloud far above. Seven seconds later, the sound hit like someone was bashing a drum next to my head. Time to get the blazes out of here.

I started dragging Sabina towards the exit, wading over dead bodies and almost knee-deep in blood in places, but she finally understood what was about to happen here as well and started making her own way out. This was about to become a stampede of people trying to get out of here.

Another ear-deafening sound came slamming against us as we made it into the wide tunnel. Luckily, it only seemed to go one way, and that was slightly upwards.

We ran and ran as the voices of the first people to make it to the tunnel could be heard far behind us. It became slightly steeper to climb, but the carpet of dead bodies made for a macabre set of stairs. I didn't want to think about how slick this would be when enough boots had trampled the dead into a paste.

Up we traveled through the river of bodies and blood until what felt like half a day and several more pillars fell.

Even I, who had memories of planet-wide battles, found the amount of fallen disturbing. The only bright side was how few humans seemed to have fallen.

Then we were in the cavern where I was captured. It was a testament to how devastating spirit powers could be. Entire companies of the enemy were frozen in solid ice, even after all this time. Scorch marks marred the ground, and boulders lay strewn about as if a giant had been playing with rocks.

Out of morbid curiosity, I tried to find my lost limb, but it was impossible. When I told Sabina what I was looking for, she shook her head and called me a moron.

At least I would be leaving this place with all my limbs, belongings and, more importantly, plunder.

Scrambling back up the side of the cavern, we made it to the last part of the tunnel. To my surprise, the enormous wyrm was removed from the entrance.

Then we were out. I stood staring up at a starry night sky. Breathing fresh air again.

“Halt!”

Looking over the ruined training ground, I spotted the sergeant in Duke of Murk's colors making his way towards us.

Taking a deep breath, I tried not to be annoyed with the man, but I had always had a bit of an issue with authority, especially if It had done nothing to earn my respect. Ironic considering my history, but I had always had an issue with it. Then again, I knew the man was just doing his job, but it still sent a jolt up my spine and my teeth clamping shut.

Trying to remind myself that I was a new and kinder Alucard, I waited for the man to reach us while taking deep breaths. That Sabina was again standing arm in arm with me and peering at my face in clear amusement didn't help.

To my surprise, the sergeant actually stopped when he was a few feet away and bowed before saying.

“My apologies, my Lord, my Lady. I can only blame the gravity of today's occurrences and the darkness of the night for my improper behavior. Can I implore you to wait over there until the Captain can have a word with you? I promise it will not be long.”

The sergeant finished saying while gesturing at a large open-sided tent set up at the end of the guild grounds; it contained a few chairs and a rather large map of the city hanging from the back wall that was slightly fluttering in the wind. Ah, by all that is holy, the wind. I thought, closing my eyes for a moment and letting the breeze flow over my face.

Shaking my head, I glimpsed the worried face of the sergeant from the side of my eye as I wondered what the blazes made him take us as nobles. Then I remembered my companion and figured she was the culprit. It wasn't a stretch to say her features screamed of nobility.

“That is fine, Sargent. Please send the captain over.”

With a quick salute, the man scampered off into the night, leaving us to make our way over ourselves.

Curiously, I took a look at the city maps. All the safe areas were marked, and from what I could see, nothing indicated any of those had been breached. Around the havens, however… dear lord. Entire districts had simply been crossed over as destroyed. I could just hope people made it out and away from the city.

Then, there was the throng outside the city. The shanty town. More souls lived out there than inside the wall. No, guards would come to save those lost souls; no knights would raise their shields to protect the damned. In the eyes of the people, they were not people.

I felt my fist clenching hard enough that my knuckles popped. My spirit power was pulsing in rhythm with the pulse hammering at my temples. The deep, surging thuds were begging me to lash out at…anything.

“Alucard?”

“It's nothing; I'm just thinking about how strange the world is.”

Taking a deep breath, I went back to the chairs and took up a space beside Sabina.

Minutes stretched into half an hour as we relaxed and talked about unique festivals we had experienced, only to be interrupted by the sound of the rapid approach of armored boots.

I was pleased to note that the Captain was no other than Archibald, who was equally pleased to deal with a reasonable lord. He didn't say it, but the relief was obvious on his face. Either he was an incredible actor, or he would need to learn some acting if he was to deal with high society forward. I put my money on the latter; he was too pure.

Luckily, the captain's request was easy to answer. Some things we knew some things we had no clue about.

I think he mostly wanted to vent since the Duke's champion had commandeered all the Duke's guards and the city guard. It is difficult to disagree with someone who is considered a national asset on par with its armed forces. This left the guard captains woefully unprepared to deal with the ensuing evacuation of the crumbling city.

As far as I could tell, the people in the sanctuaries were safe and evacuated. It was assumed that every person in those groups was already a person of means or power. The trash would have to wait its turn.

That meant my people were safe. I didn't know how big of a burden I had felt on my shoulders until I learned that. A blanket of lead was removed from my spirit. Archibald even remembered Manfred and my guards because of their particular armor when I described it to him, as he had been overseeing the area himself.

Having much to do, we cut the conversation short there as we parted in a good mood. The forward elements of the army were coming out of the tunnel, and things were about to turn into chaos around here.

Having secured a paper allowing me to purchase no essentials from the guard commissary, Sabina and I hurried our way through the ruined city until we came to one of the large guard compounds.

A few hours later we were finally leaving the city, and I swear I got swindled. Sabina was riding beside me, laughing at my sour mood.

Admittedly, I almost emptied the stables and bought enough camping gear and rations for a small army, but eighteen gold? The man had just looked me dead in the eyes and said, "Supply and demand." There weren't exactly purebred stallions from the king's stables, more the five steps from becoming glue sort of horses. There cant be that much demand for glue?

As a sort of patch on the wound, he did manage to find a good steel arming sword for me and a battle ax for Sabina. Nothing fancy, but it certainly felt good to strap on. Most importantly, he somehow had a wide-brimmed hat that fit me; sadly, no feather they had in stock would do it justice, but I was almost willing to forgive him the price of the horses when he brought it out.

Finally, he offered to have stable hands to help take care of the horses until we reached Stensguard, the next major city on the south road. I would have to pay and feed them, and if some wanted to return, instead of seeking their fortune in Stensguard, I would have them sent with a caravan back to Murktown.

I was starting to feel all sort of out of sorts and was looking for a handy foot-long metal rod or something similar when I remembered my new sword. Sabina reminded me that we were buying from the city stores during trying times before I could brain the asshole. The hat could only excuse so much.

I was kicking the ground as we made it to the wagoners. I needed everything loaded and drivers for the wagons to Stensguard, something they would only agree on if each wagon could bring two guards armed with spears, bows and mail. They would also be responsible for taking care of the oxen and setting up camp at the minuscule price of eight gold. I swear I could hear my teeth crunching from clenching my jaw.

Slower than I hoped for but faster than I expected, dawn saw us leaving the southern gate, where I found my first confirmation of one of my fears. The shanties were in shambles, to put it mildly.

No one had cared about them, least of all themselves.

I doubt the actual attack did much damage, but the panic had set the place on fire, and it looked like a stampede had gone through the shanties. Occasionally, I would glimpse bodies half-buried under wreckage or even out in the open; some were far too small to have left this life so early.

What had happened to us? When did humanity turn on itself like a raving beast? We used to be such a proud species. We were explorers and liberators, and perhaps most importantly, we had humanity and the nobility of the human spirit.

Yet here lay the proof that everything we achieved was a lie. Maybe we had always lied to ourselves. Would we eventually turn on ourselves when there were no others to stand against?

Shaking my head, I heard Sabina's horse come closer.

“You look slightly grim there. Hardly fitting for the leader of the caravan?”

Steeling myself, I turned my gaze back to the horizon and gave her a pat on the shoulder.

“You are right, of course. Hardly fitting for the leader of the caravan to contemplate the folly of humanity.”

With that, we set off on the first short trek of what would hopefully be a boring journey. I had already sent couriers ahead to Stensguard. Now, it was only a matter of picking up my people and seeing who answered my letters when we arrived at Stensguard to see how difficult the next leg of my journey would be.

An hour later, I wondered If I should hire more guards. The road was packed with people going south, and the guards actually had to threaten quite a few people with violence for sticking their arms over the side and running away with whatever they could get. I chose not to use my personal storage option anymore until I had a proper idea of how much of each item I could store without becoming ineffective if something should happen.

I imagine the other main roads were equally packed with refugees. Not that I blamed them. It would take months, if not years, for Murktown to return to something close to normalcy. It was a heavy blow to the Duke of Murk, but I have no doubt he will come through it just fine. It's not like he didn't rule five of the surrounding earldoms, too, and acres upon acres of land across the kingdom.

As the sun was getting close to lunch, I saw the courier station in the distance. Good timing, I guess. We could all do with a short rest.

As we got closer, I saw my people. They had set up camp close to the courier's station wall by the looks of it, and I had to stop myself from galloping off. Still, my smile was turning into a grin as I noticed they were squaring off against a different group at the edge of their camp and by the looks of it, people were shouting and pointing, but no weapons seemed to have been drawn just yet. Tapping the side of my horse, I cantered ahead of the caravan, signaling to the lead wagoner to keep the caravan moving.

There was always something new to deal with.