Hector’s journey presses. He has already told his father, the village oafs and his fellow knights about his newfound quest, or, as he so called it: His destiny. Yet, Hector’s brother, Wallace—the man Hector had been most keen to find—is nowhere in sight.

With a sigh and a tap of his boot, a salute to familiar troupes he remembers training with as a boy, Hector takes his leave from the palace’s battlegrounds.

His shadow, his feet, mark and subdue the colors of a long corridor filled with an array of golds, blues and ever-so-virgin whites. Crowds who wear his village’s sapphire emblem, silver plates, throw their fists up in the air. They cheer for Hector’s success in finally taking down the witch they refer to as, The plague of the village. The death of us all. And, The woman that will end you. The modern succubus. The reaper.

It is unfortunate, Hector thinks, that I cannot bid my goodbyes to brother. However, he must make do without wasting time. And so, Hector takes his best shield, the sharpest and heaviest sword owned in his arsenal. He throws one leg over his lovely beast of a horse, Nollen, and snaps his ankle against the creature’s sides.

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They are both off, running, watching the sun rise, the cyan filling the sky that looms over mountains, tall greenery and fields that go on for miles.

Once Hector hasn’t a chance of returning soon, Wallace makes his presence known.

He takes a step out from shadows which had covered his figure. A comrade throws an arm around his shoulder, asks him, “Wallace! Where’d you go? You missed Hector! He’s setting out on a journey to slay the witch! The man says he’ll gain The King’s approval and become his right-hand man. Funny, right? But…if it’s Hector,” he giggles, “I’m sure he’ll somehow pull it off.”

Wallace laughs. He waves the man away and brushes the dust off his sleeves brought on by the drunk’s dirtied equipment. “Of course he will,” are the only words Wallace says, as he smirks, grabs the drinks that are handed to him and thinks, Unfortunately for you brother, by the time you return, the position will no longer be up for the taking.