As all hope faded from Julia’s eyes, the beast slowly raised its claws skyward, to deliver the killing blow.

Yet before it could strike, a thundering bang cut through the air, and it sent the creature tumbling down.

With a heavy breath, she rolled out of its way and looked next to her where it laid motionless on the ground, a hole torn behind its head.

Peering ahead, Julia saw Edgar pointing his pistol in her general direction, a line of smoke emitting from its barrel.

He had just saved her…

“David!” She hollered.

Eyes wide, she picked up her dagger and rushed to his aid, not even bothering with the rest of her things.

Ebonhearth shook him awake. “Are you okay!?”

He stirred, groaned and squinted his eyes, before seizing hold of his weapon and using it as leverage to stand.

“I’m alright” — the blond grunted — “damn thing just caught me off guard, is all…”

“What about you” — David queried — “are you hurt?”

“I’m okay, but—”

Ebonhearth shook her head, then looked to Mr. Braithway.

“—had it not been for Edgar, I’d be a goner…”

The blond glanced to the fallen creature, then at Edgar, who was reloading his weapon.

“Guess I should be thankful he saved you, then.”

The mayor holstered his firearm and approached them, a platoon of guardsmen at his side.

“Are you two okay?”

Brocksteel glared daggers at him.

“We’re fine, thanks!”

Arching an eyebrow, Edgar sneered. “Remember who it is that holds your leash, little dog…”

“The heck you just say!?”

A deep, vicious growl cut their arguing short, and Julia felt her stomach drop.

It was the monster…

It got back on its feet, the gaping bullet wound behind its head healing at a rapid pace as the lead from the gunshot popped out.

They stepped back, and the monster veered its eyeless gaze towards them, as it turned around and bared its teeth.

“A bullet straight to the head and its still alive!?!”

Screamed a horrified guard.

With a twist of his cane, the mayor drew a sword hidden within the rod, tossed the hollow pole aside, and pulled his gun out once more.

Weapons at the ready, Edgar glanced at his men and stated.

“Get the villagers to safety! I’ll buy you some time!”

“But sir, you’ll never handle that thing on your own!”

“Do not question me! And besides” — he snickered, his blade pointing towards the ground as he twisted his wrist, and pulled back the hammer of his firearm — “been a while since I’ve seen some action!”

With a nod, they carried out his orders and roundup as many people as they could, before leaving the vicinity.

Julia’s heartbeats rattled in her ears and her throat collapsed as her eyes darted from guard to guard.

Taking off his mask, David moved away from her and tossed it aside.

She glanced at him. “David…?”

Gripping his weapon with both hands, he stood alongside Edgar, the tip of his blade pointing towards the beast.

“What I said also applies to you, boy!” The mayor hissed.

“Save it for someone who cares!”

“So be it” — Edgar scoffed — “just don’t get in my way…”

“Likewise, ya old kook…”

A shard of wood amidst the rubble of the shattered stalls caught the corner of Julia’s eyes, and she took advantage of their distraction to retrieve it.

Both the men didn’t even notice her slip away.

With a growl, the monster pawed the ground before charging them.

Edgar shot it in the shoulder.

But that wasn’t enough to stop its advance, and they had to sidestep out of the way, each slicing at one of its arms.

With both limbs damaged, and blood spurting from its newly carved wounds, the monster slowed to a screeching halt.

Its mouth split and it unleashed a deafening roar, causing its injured arms to regenerate almost instantly.

The mayor gritted his teeth. “How the hell does it keep doing that!?”

“Less talking” — David adjusted his grip — “more slicing!”

It veered back towards them and readied for a second attack.

With its attention centered on both the men, Julia took advantage of the moment and hurled the wooden debris straight at the beast.

The rubble bounced off its head, and landed onto the ground.

Growling, it turned its sightless gaze towards her.

She already had another shard in hand.

“Keep up that stubborn pride” — she threw the rubble — “and you’ll both get yourselves killed!”

Julia had angered the creature, and it zeroed all its attention on her.

Feet at the ready, she ran in the opposite direction, and it didn’t hesitate to give chase at breakneck speed.

“Are you out of your fucking mind—”

David bellowed from afar.

“—you’re the one who’s going to get yourself killed!”

“Don’t worry about me! I’ll lure it into the forest and lose it there!”

“But lass!”

She threw down one of the makeshift booths onto the beast’s path.

“Hurry! Get everyone to safety while I stall it!”

Yet the creature slowed down ever so slightly, as it rammed through the obstacle, debris flying everywhere in its wake.

It was the last Julia saw of both David and Edgar, for she took a sharp right at the nearest street with the monster hot on her tail.

<><><>

Ebonhearth ran through the narrow streets as fast as she could.

She took a tight turn at the next junction, and the creature slammed itself into the wall upon veering the corner.

It staggered for a moment before roaring and resuming its chase.

‘Quick, but bad with corners.’ Julia thought while peering behind her.

She arrived upon another intersection and made a sharp turn again.

To no surprise, the beast struggled as it slid past the street, scraping its front claws against the pavement as it tried to swerve itself in the proper direction.

The manoeuvre loosened the gap between them.

Yet, despite being faster than its former preys, it showed no signs of fatigue, and Julia knew that she couldn’t run forever.

“Just how much energy does this thing have!?”

She growled between breaths, sweat dripping down her face as she steadily began slowing down.

She was reaching her limit…

As Julia kept sprinting through the streets, her pace dwindling with every step, she saw a narrow path ahead—one that someone would have to shimmy through in order to fit.

She had no idea where it led, or if she’d run straight into a dead end.

The gap closing at an alarming rate, she took the gamble and rushed towards the alley.

Julia pressed as quickly as she could through the tight passage, and the beast reached within but an instant afterward. Its claws brushed against her face and missed her skin by an inch.

“Too big to fit in here, you revolting freak!?” She taunted as it peered within, a vicious snarl escaping from behind its teeth…

It lashed out one last time before running off in the distance and into the dimly lit corners of the village.

With a sigh of relief, Julia pressed onwards in the opposite direction, the path breaking onto another street.

Once she popped out of the alleyway, Ebonhearth bent forward and placed her hands on her knees.

She tried to catch her breath…

It took her a moment to recompose herself, and she eyed the streets until she spotted the gateway leading towards the woods on her left.

“The hell…?” She uttered.

The gate laid in shambles: its wooden doors ripped off the walls that linked them, claw marks frayed on their exterior and debris trashed across the streets.

“That’s how it got—”

Something dripped onto her shoulder, and her eyes widened.

It reeked of blood and rot, like a deer’s carcass after being torn apart by a flock of crows.

Her heart drummed in her ears, as Julia peered upwards.

And she froze…

The creature loomed on the roof, drooling saliva like a famished animal eyeing its prey.

It snarled, and Julia swore she saw it crack a horrifying grin.

A burst of adrenaline fired through her veins, and she sprung for the gate in a mad dash, dreadfully aware of how the beast pounced from roof to roof in its chase.

“Shit! Shit!! Shit!!!”

Julia tripped on a stone as soon as she crossed the gates, and the full force of her weight sent her face-first onto the ground.

Not even an instant later, it landed on top the village walls, and they cracked beneath the full force of its weight. It unleashed a bloodcurdling roar, and launched itself towards her.

Ebonhearth didn’t waste a single moment to try and crawl away, but the creature’s steps quaked the very ground beneath her.

A claw dug into her shoulder, and a loud screech blasted off her lips.

The monster rolled her onto her back, forcing her to meet its eyeless glare and the smirk-like gashes that twisted its split mouth.

It dragged its claw off her skin, and reared its bloodied fingers above its own head.

That was it…

This was how she was going to die, wasn’t it…?

Alone, covered in filth and drenched in her own blood.

A cold grasp clenched her heart, as if something tried to squeeze the life out of her.

Ebonhearth whimpered and with her elbows, she tried pulling away in an attempt to preserve her life.

‘I won’t die like—’

The creature stomped her stomach.

She cried so loud that her throat burnt and her ears rung, the weight of a thousand bricks crushing her against the dirt.

A nauseating stench she couldn’t define conquered her nostrils, and her entire world flashed right before her eyes. Soon, a rust-like taste filled her mouth, and she choked on the bile that threatened to burst out of her throat.

Tears escaping her eyes, Julia closed them with a tortured scowl and braced herself for the worst…

But an uncanny caw reached her ears, and she felt the beast remove its paw off her stomach.

With cold sweat rolling down the back of her neck, Julia opened her eyes and saw a lone crow perched upon the village walls. The moonlight shone off its gaze as it stared the monster down.

It snarled, before veering its attention at Julia and unleashing its entire bloodlust into a single roar.

All blood froze in her veins, as Ebonhearth gawked at the monstrous claw before her face, and she cursed herself for even daring a look.

Yet, before it had a chance to disembowel her, the crow swooped off its perch and flew around the beast, clawing and pecking at its head.

The bird wasted no time in soaring back towards the village…

It cawed again, and the creature's eyeless sight zeroed-in on its tiny frame.

A paw crashed against the ground, dangerously close to Julia’s head, and the creature followed the crow, using the village rooftops like a gorilla would trees in a forest.

Julia laid still, her back drenched in sweat and blood as she waged a war to regain her breath.

“That” — she choked — “was a close one…”

The metal taste of blood still on her palate, she cradled her abdomen and tried to sit up…

On her second attempt, she managed it, and expelled a massive sigh of relief. Though it was short-lived, and she realized that her plan of luring the monster away had failed.

‘Damn it! I need to get back to David and the others!’

Without a second thought, Ebonhearth hurried back into the village, hand pressed against her blood-soaked arm and blade at the ready.

<><><>

Meanwhile, on David’s side.

A group of guardsmen followed behind David and Edgar as they ran through the streets, weapons in hand.

“Everyone back to your homes—”

Brocksteel hollered, his voice bouncing off the walls as the villagers barded themselves indoors.

“—close all your doors and block your windows!”

“Not bad, kid—”

Said one of the guards, not concealing his newfound respect for him.

“—ever thought of joining the local guard?”

“Sorry” — he snarled — “ain’t interested in doing your job for you!”

But before the man could quip his comeback, the entire unit spotted a lone woman knelt before an alleyway up ahead, her hands pressed against her face.

It took David a moment to recognize her, and he rushed on ahead as soon as he did.

“Abigail!?”

The woman launched herself onto him, and buried her face beneath his chest as soon as he approached and knelt before her.

It was as if her life depended on it…

He let his arms wrap around her in an awkward hug, and perceived how tears tarnished his clean clothes.

“What are you doing here” — David asked — “where’s Johnathan!?”

With a broken sob, Abigail buried her face deeper into his chest, and he frowned.

This wasn’t like her…

Lifting his eyes, David followed the moonlight into the alleyway, and froze almost instantly.

‘Terra have mercy…’

In the narrow passage ahead, laid Johnathan, his stomach torn open with his intestines scattered in a pool of blood, as a lit torch revealed his ravaged face, covered in teeth marks.

Far enough not to smell his remains, Brocksteel altered his grasp to hold Abigail in a proper embrace.

“I’m so sorry” — David caught his breath — “where’s your son?”

“At home” — she muttered — “Johnathan left the festival early to go check on him and—”

Her voice stilled for but a moment, and she covered her mouth…

“—by the goddesses… What if it got him as well…!?”

David grabbed her shoulders…

“Calm down! I’m sure Ben is fine!”

The stomping of various boots released him from the insurmountable task of reassuring her, and the blond lifted his eyes to look at the nearest of the men, only to see his face twist into an aghast grimace.

He had but an instant to move Abigail out of the way, before the man regurgitated the contents of his stomach all over the ground.

“Fuck” — exclaimed another guardsman — “it got Johnathan!”

“You’re not helping any—”

“Enough” — Edgar cut their arguing short — “the lot of you!”

With a grunt, the blond averted his eyes.

The mayor conveyed his commands to the panic-ridden guards, but his voice faded into background noise, as Brocksteel focused on the woman in his arms and finally realized just how much she trembled.

“It’s alright—”

Uttered the blond, his soft words easing her nerves ever so slightly…

“—I’ll get your son right back to you… I prom—”

The cawing of a crow above their heads reached their ears, its wings flapping as it flew circles around them.

It sent a frown to David’s face…

‘How did it pick up on Johnathan’s corpse so soon?’

But before he could ponder over it, a vicious growl rumbled through the street ahead, and his eyes shot up to where it was unleashed.

There it was—the creature—standing on its hind legs like a bear, its tongue licking at its blood tarnished mouth.

How didn’t they hear it approach!?

“Damn it” — shouted Edgar — “the wench failed!”

A bolt of courage shot through David’s body, and he rose, unsheathing his weapon in a single gesture as he blocked Abigail from view…

“D-David…?” The woman uttered.

“Get her out of here” — he told the bunch, his eyes focused onto the creature ahead — “I’ll handle this…”

One of the guardsman alongside him drew his sword.

“Have you lost your damn mind, boy!?”

Yet Braithway grabbed him by the shoulder to interject.

“If he wants to risk his life for us, let him—”

The other guards glanced at him in utter dismay—his words leaving them dumbfounded…

“—better him then us!”

“What a fucking shocker—”

David stated, not at all surprised at his sudden betrayal.

“—knew you’d eventually throw me to the wolves!”

The monster roared, and he tightened his grip around his weapon…

“Go” — the blond exclaimed one last time — “get out of here!”

At the corner of his eyes, David saw the mayor yank the guard backwards, but had no time to confirm whether they were leaving before the beast charged forward, flailing its arms in a flurry of slashes like a demented man.

He somersaulted below the assault, and its claws brushed his head, missing him by an inch, as he pushed himself back to his feet behind the monster.

“You’re gonna have to do better then that!”

Back on all fours, the creature peered over its shoulder and snarled, right before it veered itself around and prepared for another strike.

“That again” — he scoffed — “ain’t all that smart, are ya!?”

Unsurprisingly, it echoed its previous attack, and he tried to roll beneath it once more. However, the beast was ready for him this time, and it lowered one of its arms to seize him off the ground, slamming him against the wall.

Held by the neck, the blond flailed his blade at its face, yet his swings fell short as the creature chucked it aside with its other paw, the cut left by the sword healing almost instantly.

It raised its claws upward, and Brocksteel knew what was to come…

At the last moment, however, he spotted a lit torch hung on the wall near him, and he snatched it from its holder in an attempt to survive.

“Eat this!” He slammed the fire against its disgusting head.

The beast unleashed a pained scream; the flames spreading from its cheek down its shoulder like wildfire.

While it grazed at its face, Brocksteel felt its grip loosen. He clenched the thing’s wrist, curled his legs and kicked it in the trunk, breaking free as the creature staggered backwards, scratching at the burning side of its head.

In a swift move, he recovered his weapon and bolted for the market.

<><><>

That same moment, back on Julia’s end.

It was not long before Julia found herself within the bazaar, pain still shooting through her stomach as she gasped for air.

The place laid vacant, not a single soul in sight. A caw suddenly echoed from the skies, and she veered her attention towards its source.

‘That crow again?’

It perched itself on a nearby roof, and the roars of the creature soon resonated within the air…

Darting towards the fountain, she saw David running out of a street and into the marketplace, the beast hot on his tail.

The monster growled, and he leapt out of its way. Not even a second after taking the dive, it pounced and landed a few meters in front of him, to which David quickly pushed himself back on his feet.

“The hell are you doing here!?” Said the blond, his attention torn between Julia and the creature.

“I could ask you the same thing!”

With the full sway of its arm, the beast lunged backwards, and David rolled out of the way to evade its attack.

“Just do as I say lass, and get out of here!”

“But—”

“Go!!!” He bellowed as he and the creature entered into a stand-off…

Dagger in hand, Julia’s eyes met the ground, and she noticed the rubble left in the monster’s wake.

She wasn’t about to let David get himself killed!

Thus, she grabbed a piece of debris and hurled it straight at the creature’s head.

“Hey ugly” — Ebonhearth hit her mark — “over here!”

With a vicious snarl, the beast veered its attention away from David and towards her.

“Oh no, you don’t!”

Its back turned to him, he swung his weapon and aimed for its neck.

But it reared its arm, and his sword bounced off its flesh, like metal would when clanging against stone. The clash caused him to stagger back a few steps…

The creature seized the opportunity to swing its arm and throw him aside like a sack of potatoes.

Ebonhearth barely had time to react before it pawed the ground and charged her with a powerful roar.

Razor at the ready, she cupped her blade and pressed its sharp edge against her palm, preparing to slice it open and cease this nightmare once and for all…

But the blond got back on his feet and raised his sword over his head to down it at the monster’s back.

“Like hell you’re gonna touch her!”

With all his might, he hurled the weapon, the tip of his blade soaring through the air like a spear, until it pierced the creature's skull with an ear ringing slash.

Its large frame collapsed but a few inches away from Julia, the sharp edge of his blood soaked steel slightly protruding from its mouth…

David wasted no time in sprinting towards it, and before it even had a chance to stand, he pulled his blade from its cranium and sliced its head clean off with but a single swing.

Its severed head landed a few feet away, and a brief stillness ensued as the blond tried catching his breath.

“What the hell were you thinking, lass—”

“—you could’ve gotten yourself killed!”

“And what was I supposed to do—”

Eyes stinging, Ebonhearth faced him head on, not noticing the tears that welled within her eyes.

“—let it kill you instead!?”

“Are” — his voice faltered — “you seriously crying right now?”

Face burning, she wiped away her tears before they could roll down her cheeks.

“N-no” — she began blushing — “I just had something in my eyes…!”

David smiled at her response and shook his head.

“Well, what’s done is done—”

“—you’re not hurt, are you?”

Julia pressed her hand on her stomach, yet nod in response as to not worry him further.

“What about you, though—”

“—that thing landed a pretty good swing on you…”

“Don’t worry about me” — he cleared the blood from his sword with a downward swing — “I’ve taken worse beatings then that.”

In the distance, they heard several footsteps running towards them. It was Edgar and the guards, finally showing up to help.

“Took you fellas long enough…!”

David hissed as he and Julia stepped away from the headless carcass to approach the lot.

One of the guardsman gasped at the scene…

“You actually killed it!”

If Julia hadn’t been so close to dying, she’d have giggled at the dumbfounded look on everyone’s face.

David then sheathed his weapon and looked at her.

“I didn’t do it alone, though…”

“Please” — Ebonhearth blushed — “I just hurled some debris at it…”

When Edgar approached, Brocksteel marched forward and invaded his personal space to glare him down.

“What happened to Abigail?”

The mayor sidestepped him without a care in the world.

“Dispose of these remains and have this place cleaned up as soon as possible—”

He ordered his men.

“—I’ll let everyone know that the storm has passed.”

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

“Aight!”

“Right away, sir!”

As the guardsmen neared the beast’s headless cadaver, one of them signalled the rest to stay back, drew his sword and stepped forward.

Standing before the monster, he poked it with the tip of his steel, no doubt to check if it was really dead.

It didn’t move…

Relief filled Julia’s lungs at the sight, and she thanked the goddesses that she did not have to cut her palm.

Finally, everything was going to be alright!

However, Brocksteel pressed forward with a growl and grabbed Edgar’s shoulder as he walked away.

“I asked you a question!”

Stress surged through Ebonhearth’s veins—terrified that her friend might do something stupid to anger the mayor.

“And what if the poor woman died, because of you!?” Edgar retorted and faced him head-on.

“The hell did you just say!?”

“What if your abandonment and egotistical lust for heroism cost the woman her life, boy!?”

“You’re the one who ran away!”

“And you’re the one who left her behind—”

“—so maybe back off before I end up doing something you’ll regret!”

His hand moved to where he had sheathed his blade, and Julia began fearing the worst…

But thankfully, David complied and stepped away.

“That’s better” — Braithway grinned — “now, for your question—”

Yet before the mayor had a chance to speak, a caw boomed from the rooftops—the loudest Ebonhearth had ever heard a crow emit.

Julia felt the ground vanish beneath her feet, as she darted her sights to the bird, praying beyond hope that her suspicions were incorrect.

And when the crow flew away into the night, she wanted to laugh at her own stupidity.

‘All this chaos must’ve got the best of—’

Yet her relief escaped her lungs in the form of a gasp, as she followed David’s eyes to where the monster’s lifeless corpse twitched in ways that it should not.

“N-no” — the blond’s voice shuddered — “there’s no way in hell…!”

She eyed the guard which stood near the creature, and her eyes widened in their sockets.

“Get away from it—”

She bellowed to him from the top of her lungs.

“—it’s still alive!”

But it was too late…

The monster sprung to its feet and snatched him by the legs, holding him upside down before its headless frame.

In his panic, the guard dropped his sword and began punching away at anything he could reach.

“Help!” The man cried to his peers in the hopes that they would rush to his aid.

Yet none of them dared to press onward…

Julia wanted to help; to bolt forward and tackle him from its grasp—to cut her palm and use her blood like she should’ve when they first encountered that thing.

Yet her legs wouldn’t budge, her hands wouldn’t stop quivering, and the cold of her sweat refused to disappear from her spine.

An arrow whistled through the air, and it struck the creature square in the exposed innards of its neck.

Who fired it?

Ebonhearth wasn’t sure herself…

But the thing tore it from its flesh with its spare arm like it was nothing but an annoyance.

Thick, worm-like veins bulged in its neck, like a thousand polyps exploded within.

Julia took a step back…

What happened next would forever haunt her dreams: a new head ripped through the layers of skin, and it swallowed the guard’s head whole with a single bite.

And, as the beast tore away at his flesh, small spikes grew on its back and shoulders, its claws extending as a triad of horns created an inverted triangle on its head.

People screamed and swore all around her, but Ebonhearth couldn’t find it in herself to worry about what they spoke or did, their voices intermixing into nothingness as she gawked at the man whose body writhed like a decapitated chicken.

Mouth smeared with blood and gore, the creature unleashed an ear-piercing howl, and its high-pitched shrieks shot nausea through her veins.

She covered her ears and staggered back, hearing the clash of weapons against the floor as everyone tried to block out the sound.

“It hurts!”

“My head’s about to explode!”

“Just what the hell is this thing!?”

The howl was quick to stop, but the shrill still lingered in Julia’s ears.

And when she finally managed to gaze upwards, she froze: the beast was facing her head-on…

It growled as it raised the man’s mangled corpse above its new head and hurled him straight at her.

For a second, time stood still before her eyes…

Why couldn’t she just move!?

“Watch out!”

A guardsman hit her shoulder with his own, and it sent her tumbling to the ground.

Julia had no time to react before the decapitated guard smacked her saviour, and a sickening crack reached her ears.

The corpse twisted the poor man’s spine like it was a twig, and their combined blood splashed on her face as they both hit the pavement.

She doubled over and poured her bowels almost on her own feet…

And when she regained her bearings, Ebonhearth quickly raised her head, only to be met by a new grotesque scene of the beast charging at a guardsman and skewering him on its horns.

A bloodcurdling scream ensued, and it snatched the man off its forehead and lobbed him against a wall, the impact killing him instantly.

The other guards scrambled to retrieve their weapons, but the fiend butchered them one by one.

A few reclaimed arms and continued the assault, but the grotesque thing had no issues fending off the horde.

It was a one-sided battle—a true massacre—and it ripped them to pieces, blood and flesh flooding the entire streets as the beast went through most their numbers.

“You bastard—”

Sword in hand, David yelled somewhere at her side.

“—you’ll pay for what you did to them!”

Chill invaded Ebonhearth’s veins as she met his form with her eyes.

“David! Wait!!!”

“You’ll be killed, you damn fool!” Bellowed Edgar in unison with her.

But their cries fell on deaf ears as Brocksteel pressed ahead, blinded by a wrath that she had never witnessed in his eyes.

Before he even landed a hit, however, the beast snatched him off the ground with a single hand and lifted him over its head.

In an attempt to break free, the blond swung his weapon at its face, but the clash against its horns forced the blade out of his hand.

Julia’s heart thumped in her ears; her mouth so dry that she couldn’t even swallow her own saliva.

And when the beast pulled back its other arm in what couldn’t have been anything than a slash, she knew there was no other way…

‘Mother’ — Ebonhearth pressed her blade to her hand — ‘forgive me for what I’m about to do…’

She sliced it open, and blood began to spill.

Perhaps it was the adrenaline, or the fear of losing her friend, but as the crimson drops floated off her palm, Julia felt no pain.

‘Is what mother said about this blade true…?’

Her blood levitated in the air, and it formed a perfect scarlet sphere.

“B-by the goddesses” — Braithway’s voice shuddered with shock — “you’re a—”

Yet before he could finish his sentence, she sent a torrent of crimson liquid at the creature, slicing its arm off its socket and freeing David from its grasp.

Upon meeting the ground with the severed limb, he glanced up and met Julia’s eyes, who inched forward with a floating sphere of blood in her right hand and her dagger in the left.

“Lass” — his voice trembled — “you’re a witch…!?”

She averted her stare and bit her lower lip. “I’ll handle this, David…”

Without words, Brocksteel picked up his weapon and ran for safety.

Its severed limb grew back much like its head, and it veered its eyeless glare at Julia with a growl.

“I don’t know what you are, nor where you came from—”

She uttered beneath gritted teeth.

“—but this carnage ends here and now!”

As if it understood, the monster pawed the ground and charged.

And when it was about to pounce, she vanished into thin air, leaving a haze of crimson in her wake.

She watched as it darted its head around in confusion, unable to find her no matter how much it tried, and Julia hurled a torrent of molten red at its face.

With a new cut on its brass, it darted to where the assault originated and spotted its prey standing a few feet away.

“Is that the best you can do, you disgusting freak!?”

Snarling, it rose on its hind legs and let out a roar before it propelled itself forward and flailed its arms in a flurry of slashes.

Julia warped out of danger again and struck at its flank with a shockwave of blood.

“You’ll never hit me with that!”

Facing the wall where she once stood, the beast faltered, the wound on its back mending itself at a slower pace.

‘Whatever this thing is’ — she thought — ‘blood magic appears to be slowing its regeneration.’

The cut on its back finally healed, to which the monster then turned around on all fours.

‘But that alone won’t be enough…’

The thing struck again and Ebonhearth teleported out of the way to counterattack.

Julia had the upper hand, but each blow she delivered and every attack she evaded caused her vision to blur.

Her powers came at the price of her life force, and she hadn’t trained her body to sustain them for so long…

‘Think Julia, think—’

She steadied herself against the vertigo.

‘—it ought to have a weakness!’

Her eyesight returned to normal and she noticed something odd on its lower neck: a burn mark, one that hadn’t healed.

As the beast charged again, Julia flung a concentrated beam of blood at its scar and vanished out of harm’s way.

She reappeared a fair distance away and heard it let loose a guttural screech marred with pain.

Her attack had hit its mark…

The monster slowed to a total halt, blood seeping from its wound as it pressed its paw over its clavicle.

Julia waited with bated breath…

It never healed!

She then looked to a makeshift liquor booth.

‘That’s it!’

In a mad dash, Ebonhearth rushed towards the creature, and it tried to swipe at her. It missed as she phased out of peril and reappeared upon its back.

Julia plunged her blade behind its head, and she held onto it for dear life.

It unleashed a pained shriek as it reeled and kicked, trying to throw her off its back as would an enraged bull being rodeoed.

She grabbed hold of its horns and made it charge head-first towards the liquor booth in its frenzy, but it stopped and rose to its hind legs.

It reached behind its back with both arms in an attempt to grab her. But Julia wiggled left and right, avoiding the claws and swiping them away with her magic, and it sent the beast back on all fours.

It bucked and tried to toss her off again, but Ebonhearth twisted her blade and held on with everything she had.

At a safe distance from the skirmish, Julia spotted David and the others hiding behind whatever they could find.

They hadn’t fled like she expected them to.

“Douse it in alcohol, David!” She shouted from the top of her lungs.

He hesitated—and from afar—Ebonhearth saw the fear in his eyes.

“Please” — she implored him — “you have to trust me!”

The blond sprung into action and hard-pressed Edgar with his hand out, as if wanting something from him.

They yelled at each other, but Julia couldn’t make out their exchange amidst the growling in her ears.

And soon, the mayor caved in and handed his firearm to David, who wasted no time in running towards the booth and grabbing a pair of jugs off its shelves.

She readjusted her grip on the horns as he hurried towards her with the containers in the crook of his arms.

“You sure this is gonna work, lass!?”

“Not exactly!”

“Hope you know that I’m putting my neck on the line for you!”

“Just douse it already!”

With a sneer, David heaved the jugs. They shattered on impact, covering Julia and the monster in alcohol.

“That won’t be enough” — exclaimed Julia — “we need more!”

“You trying to get it drunk or something!?”

“Less talking, more throwing!”

“For the love of—”

He hurried back to the booth.

With two fingers under his tongue, Brocksteel whistled at the beast.

“Yo, ugly—”

It darted its sightless gaze towards him, and he flipped it off.

“—come get some!”

Despite having no eyes, the creature reacted like it had seen and understood his gesture.

Thus, it pawed the ground and charged in a beeline towards him.

At the last moment, he sprung out of the way, and the thing smashed through the stall. Both it and Julia were soaked, the stench of cheap booze lingering on them.

The creature reached behind its back again, and preoccupied by the smell, Julia failed to escape.

It coiled its enormous paws around her waist, stood on its hind legs, and began crushing her—pain surging through her abdomen as she looked and shouted to him.

“Now David!”

“But you’ll be caught in the blaze too!”

“Just do it, already!”

He begrudgingly drew the pistol and fired the pond of alcohol at the monster’s feet.

The bullet lit the liquid ablaze, and Julia hit the beast across the face with a torrent of blood, took hold of its horn, and yanked the dagger from behind its skull.

“Burn in hell!”

She teleported out of danger as the flames swallowed it whole.

And when she reappeared a fair distance away, she heard it let loose an excruciating screech, as it flailed its arms and moved towards the nearest water source.

“It’s making a break for the fountain, lass!”

“Like hell it is!”

She knelt and slammed her fist against the ground.

Gushing from her fractured knuckles, a scarlet web stretched across the pavement and sped towards the beast like a tidal wave.

A flurry of liquefied tendrils surged out of the bloody pond, and they latched to the creature’s flesh, anchoring it to the ground as it burnt alive to a crisp.

“It’s over now!”

She drew red threads from the pool, and pulled at them like a hunter would his dogs.

And like a hound on a leash, it clawed the ground in a frantic attempt to break free, but its movements grew softer and softer as it continued to struggle.

And when the flames finally died out, the beast stretched out its arm and dropped limp and motionless to the floor.

The strings she created went loose and melted away, and that’s how Ebonhearth knew that the monster was dead.

“It’s” — she swallowed — “over…”

Her eyes blurred, and she struggled to stand on her feet.

She glanced at David and opened her mouth to call out his name, but her strength left her, and darkness followed.

And the last thing Julia heard before collapsing from exsanguination was his voice, calling out to her…

<><><>

Sometime later.

Ebonhearth awoke from her unconscious state, her eyelids heavy as she fluttered them open.

‘Where…’

Mind still hazy from the night before, she shook her head and looked around—only to find herself in what appeared to be the confines of a prison cell.

“The hell!?”

Julia exclaimed and almost choked on the dryness of her own throat.

She tried to move forward, yet couldn’t, as it seemed that something kept her in place.

With a glimpse below her waist, she saw ropes tied around her body and the way her arms laid fastened behind her back…

Julia couldn’t see what it was she was bound to, but given the simple fact that she stood on both her feet, meant that it had to be a column of sorts…

Her legs were tied up as well, and the ropes chafed her ankles as she sought to lift them.

And as if all of that wasn’t frightening enough, her clothes had been swapped with some old rags…

“What’s the meaning of this!?” Ebonhearth shouted as she squirmed against her restraints.

Yet no response…

“Hello” — she tried again — “anyone there!?”

A metal sound reached her ears, and she stopped fidgeting to glance to where the only door in the cell stood.

On its centre, a tiny hatch slid open, and a pair of eyes peered within.

They locked with hers and widened instantly…

The person slammed the hatch shut, and she recoiled once the noise rattled her ears.

“Fuck” — stated a man from beyond the door — “the sedatives wore off and she’s awake!”

“What should we do!?” Another replied

“You keep an eye on her while I go get the mayor!”

“Are you kidding me—”

“—I’m not staying alone with the she-devil!”

“Just do it” — said the first of the voice as she heard footsteps trudge away from her cell — “I promise that I won’t be long.”

“Fine” — answered the second man — “but be quick about it!”

Ebonhearth then heard the metallic creaks of a door open and close somewhere beyond her unit.

Just what the hell was going on!?

It wasn’t long until Julia heard that door reopen, and a familiar voice uttered from outside.

“Move aside, you two—”

“—and have your swords at the ready!”

Keys jangled as they were inserted inside a lock, and the door to her cell cracked open with a loud creak…

In stepped Edgar, his pistol aimed at Julia as he held a syringe within his other hand.

“Mr. Braithway” — she uttered — “what’s the meaning of this!?”

“Silence!” He backhandedly smacked her across the face without the slightest remorse.

Their eyes locked, and Edgar pulled back the hammer of his weapon as he held it below her jawline…

“Rumours say that the Glaives pay handsomely for the whereabouts of witches—”

He pressed the syringe against her neck…

“—wonder how much they’d pay for one already detained?”

Ebonhearth grit her teeth. “Just what the hell are you trying to say!?”

“What I’m saying—”

He grinned and injected her with a violet liquid…

“—is that those devil-eyed freaks will soon come to collect you, and that the village coffers will be a little heavier after you’re gone…”

Rage and disgust whirled inside of her, and she tried to fight against her restrains, but couldn’t muster the strength to do so.

It was almost like she had been struck by a runaway wagon and got knocked out colder than a winter’s night.

Her vision began to blur, and Julia winced in a futile attempt to keep the nausea at bay.

She glanced up and noticed that Edgar was gone, the door slamming shut in his wake.

“Administer another dose if she wakes up again.”

He said to the men outside her cell.

“Y-yes, Mr. Braithway!”

“We’ll see to it!”

“Good” — uttered the mayor — “now if you’ll both excuse me, I have important business to—”

A chill slithered up Julia’s back, and her eyes closed before she could hear the rest of his speech…

<><><>

Meanwhile, elsewhere in Solseed.

As folks went about their days, gossiping about what transpired the night before, David strolled through the village with his hands in the pockets of his pants, his downcast eyes never leaving the ground.

“Have you heard about Julia?” He overheard a woman tell her friend as they walked towards him.

“That she’s a witch? I’ve heard about it, but is it true?”

They strolled past him without acknowledging his presence.

“My husband was there when the creature was vanquished—”

“—he said that she’s the one who killed it…”

“With blood magic!?”

“Yeah, with blood magic!”

“I’d never thought such a kind woman would dabble in such heinous things…”

“Me neither…”

David clenched his teeth and fought the desire to berate them both, his hands tightening into fists as he kept walking.

It wasn’t worth it…

After passing several street blocks, he arrived at his destination and prepared to knock at the door in front of him.

But before he could make his presence known, it pried open and out stepped Abigail, an empty basket hanging on her arm.

She bumped against his frame…

“Oh” — the woman jumped backwards — “David! What are you doing here?”

Brocksteel licked the dryness off his lips and averted his sights.

“I’m terribly sorry, but—”

His voice wavered, and he swallowed the lump which lingered in his throat while looking into her eyes.

“—do you have a moment?”

Hand pressed against her chest, Abigail nod her head…

Seated within her living room, with an empty cup and a platter upon the table before the couch which he sat on, David readjusted his posture for the umpteenth time.

And soon, Abigail walked out of the kitchen, a hot coffee pot in hand.

“Coffee…?”

Amidst the robust aroma of caffeine, a faint fragrance of vanilla tickled his nostrils.

“Yeah…”

She poured him a cup with shaky hands and a few droplets splashed onto his skin.

“Ouch!” The blond covered his arm.

“I’m so sorry” — she ditched the pot to tend to his burn — “I-I really didn’t mean to—”

“It’s fine” — Brocksteel shook his head — “just stung a little, is—”

Yet before he could finish his sentence, they heard footsteps rushing downstairs, and soon, Benjamin emerged from behind the staircase.

His big eyes then zeroed onto the blond.

“David!” He exclaimed with levels of wonder only a child could have.

“Hey there, kiddo!”

“Whatcha doing here!?”

“Well… I’m—”

He spotted Abigail brush tears from her eyes where her son couldn’t see them…

“David is here to talk with mommy alone, Ben—”

Her voice weighed heavy with emotions as she forced a smile to her face, a clearcut sign that she hadn’t told him about Johnathan’s passing just yet…

“—go upstairs and play with your toys…”

“But mommy…!” Ben whined with a massive pout.

His arm behind the couch, David cracked him a smile and suggested.

“Tell you what—”

“—if you do as your mom says, I’ll tell you a super-duper secret that nobody knows about me!”

“You will!?”

“Yup” — David smirked — “but you gotta listen to mommy, though!”

“Okay!”

With a massive grin and a tiny hop, Ben made his way up to his room faster than he had descended from it…

The adults waited for his door to close before glancing at each other.

“You didn’t tell him yet” — uttered the blond — “about Johnathan…”

Eyes hidden below her hair, Abigail gripped her own arm, and David knew that she was fighting with everything she had to hold back her tears…

“No” — she shook her head and sat next to him — “I haven’t…”

A gut clenching guilt struck him like a punch to the stomach for even bringing it up, and he averted his gaze…

“Sorry… I shouldn’t have—”

“It’s alright, I’ve gotten ample time to mourn…”

“Ample time” — he winced — “Abigail, your husband just—”

“I shed all the tears I could last night” — she cut him off with a shaky breath — “during the attack…”

A brief stillness ensued, and all David could do was heed her words.

“When I arrived home, I hurried to Ben’s room and found him sound asleep in his bed—”

“—all that madness outside and he didn’t even stir…”

David bent forward and kept listening.

It was the least he could do…

“When Johnathan and I chose to get married, we both knew the risks that his job entailed…”

Her breath quivered, and tears welled in her eyes.

“Everyday, when he’d put on his armour and walk out that door—”

She pointed towards the entrance.

“—I knew that I might not see him again, thus I cherished every moment we had as if it were our last…”

Her voice wavered, as if on the verge of crying…

“But even though I was ready, that this day might eventually come… I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t—”

Mid-sentence, their eyes locked, and she finally broke down in tears.

“Abigail…”

And like second nature, he sprung forward and held her in his arms.

He let the woman grieve against his shoulder, much like he had done the previous night.

But he held her tighter rather than letting go…

“You’re strong” — the blond softly uttered — “stronger than anyone I’ve ever known, and Johnathan would be proud…”

“Thank you, David—”

She whispered, head pressed against his chest…

“—thank you…”

They stayed like that for a bit longer, until Abigail regained her composure and pulled away.

“I’m guessing you didn’t come here simply to comfort this mourning widow?” She brushed the remainder of her tears away.

David froze, yet didn’t reply…

“You’re here to talk about Julia, aren’t you?”

“Yeah” — he offered her a nod — “take it you’ve heard the gossips?”

“I have—”

A different kind of stillness befell them—one that gnawed at David’s heart and made his mind weigh heavier with thoughts he wished he didn’t need to have.

“—is it true, though, that she’s a witch…?”

Abigail broke the silence, her words ringing hollow within his ears…

“As hard as it might seem—”

Brocksteel swallowed the knot that clenched at his throat.

“—I was there, saw her wield blood magic with my own eyes…”

Incapable of looking her in the eyes, David averted his gaze and took a swig of his coffee.

It burnt its way down his gullet…

“A couple of friends came to offer their condolences earlier—”

She uttered while twirling her thumbs.

“—they briefly mentioned it during our conversation…”

Silence befell them once more…

“Apparently” — Abigail continued — “the mayor claims that it’s her who summoned it…”

David hissed and settled the cup back in its plate.

“And you believe that…?”

She shook her head and clenched her dress…

“Not a word of it…”

“So you don’t think she’s evil?” Inquired the blond, his back hunched and arms crossed.

“If she was evil” — Abigail squeezed her fists — “Julia wouldn’t have risked her life like that—”

She stilled herself for a moment, then dared a glimpse into his eyes…

“—what’s your opinion on the matter…?”

David took a moment to gather his thoughts.

“I don’t believe she’s evil and even less that she conjured that thing.”

A moment of silence stretched into two, which multiplied into eight, and soon, they found themselves in utter quietness…

The grandfather clock alongside the fireplace ticked, and the sounds entered Brocksteel’s ears, as if to chastise him for his turmoil. It took everything he had to maintain eye contact with Abigail.

He then took a deep breath before speaking his mind.

“I want to help her, but” — his voice faltered — “I don’t know how…”

Rising to her feet, Abigail offered him a smile and pat him on the lap.

“Wait here” — she spoke — “there’s something I’d like you to have.”

He nod as she made her way towards the staircase.

As he awaited her return, David retrieved his most precious jewel—a small golden locket—from the safety of his shirt.

He pried it open and let his eyes brush across the photo inside, from his eighteen-year-old self to his blonde haired sister that stood next to him, his arm wrapped around her shoulder.

Somehow, her emerald eyes sparkled with mirth even in their paper form, and it made him smile…

A thud echoed from upstairs, and David snapped the locket shut and tucked it back in his shirt. Soon, Abigail walked off the staircase with a parcel wrapped in a silky cloth.

She approached him with even steps, and Brocksteel turned around to face her.

“Here…” Her voice cracked while she held the package out for him…

He eyed the white fabric, his stare tracing the leather binds that kept it wrapped. “What’s this?”

More tears welled in her eyes when he took the gift, but said nothing as he undid the straps and unwrapped it.

His eyes meeting the navy textiles of a familiar attire, David gasped.

It was Johnathan’s uniform…

“I-I’m sorry” — the blond stammered as he tried handing it back to her — “I can’t accept—”

Yet Abigail insisted and pushed her husbands uniform away…

“Johnathan would want you to have it…”

“I-I don’t know what to say…”

“Just” — her voice waned — “promise me you’ll put it to good use…”

David settled his gift down on a cupboard nearby, and embraced the woman in the firmest hug he could muster without hurting her.

“Thank you” — he murmured — “I swear that I will…”

The moment passed, and they let go…

With a smile that felt far too shaky for his taste, the blond darted his eyes towards the stairway.

“You want to see him, don’t you?” She asked.

“Well, I got a promise to keep and a secret to go tell!”

“I hope you don’t plan on—”

“No, no, no, of course not” — David shook his head — “best he learnt that from his mother—”

“—I’m just gonna tell him a little something nobody in town knows about me!”

Abigail scoffed, but her upturned lips gave away her real thoughts…

He smirked and hustled up the steps much like Ben had done before, and for but a brief moment, he felt like everything would be alright.

Before he reached the kiddo’s room, David heard Abigail holler from the main floor.

“Have fun, you two!”

<><><>

Sometime later.

The moon shone high in the night sky as David marched through the village streets, the cold breeze like a whip against his skin…

An itch took hold of his right cheek, and the blond tried to scratch it, but his helmet got in the way and he ended up stroking its steel plating instead.

‘Just a little bit more…’

A pair of saddlebags hanging on his left shoulder, Brocksteel arrived at the prison and knocked upon its iron door.

“About damn time!” Exclaimed a man from within.

He heard movement from beyond, and it wasn’t long until it opened.

A lone guard was the one to answer as their eyes locked…

“H-hey” — said the blond in an attempt to conceal his voice — “here to take over the shift…”

The guardsman arched an eyebrow. “What’s with the saddlebags?”

“I’m part of the dispatchment called in from the capital—”

He left pause in an attempt to gather his thoughts.

“—just arrived and was instructed to come here immediately.”

“No one told me about a dispatchment?”

Said the second guard from behind his partner.

“Not to mention that overseeing the jail is a two man job” — the first added — “so where’s your partner?”

Not knowing how to respond, David lowered his head and grimaced beneath his helmet, the hairs rising on the back of his neck.

“Uhmm, well—”

The guard who answered the door stepped into his personal space…

“Let me see your face, kid...!”

At the corner of his eyes, Brocksteel noticed the other man reach for his sword.

His cover was blown, and the blond didn’t think twice before punching the nearest guard between the eyes, the sheer impact of his blow knocking him out cold.

The second drew his blade. “Intru—”

He hurled his bags at him before he could sound the alarm. It caused the guard to stagger, to which David rushed him as quick as possible and kicked him square in the manhood.

It sent him to his knees with his hands over his genitals, to which he then promptly knocked him out too, with another sucker punch…

“Sorry fellas” — he said to their unconscious form — “I know you’re just doing your jobs…”

After rubbing the backside of his hand, David recovered a set of keys from the first of the fallen guards.

Standing before what he assumed to be Ebonhearth’s cell, he sought to unlock it.

Yet none of the keys appeared to fit within the latch…

‘Come on, damnit—’

He pushed the last key inside the lock with a slew of swears beneath his breath, and for a second believed he had broken the thing.

But just like any set of keys, it was the very last one that did the trick.

‘—fucking typical!’

David threw the bundle aside and pushed the door open, and upon entering, he stomped the ground twice, the smell of hours-old booze assaulting his nostrils—the lass reeking of it…

Julia must have heard him, for when she dragged her head upwards, and his eyes met her tear-filled face, David felt a pang in his stomach and rage boiling in his veins.

He removed his helmet and chucked it aside.

“David…” She muttered his name, new tears welling within her eyes.

“Seen better days, huh lass?”

“What are you doing here!?”

“What does it look like—”

He drew his sword and stepped behind the mast she was bound to…

“—I’m getting you out of here, so hold still…”

He cut the ropes around her ankles first, then finished with the ones which kept her arms tied behind her back.

Caressing her chafed wrists, Julia looked at him…

“But why are you helping me” — queried the lass — “I’m a—”

“A witch, I know” — he said — “but you saved our lives, and I figured I might as well return the favour.”

Brocksteel then sheathed his weapon…

“David… I don’t know how to—”

“Save it” — the blond marched out of the unit — “you can thank me once we’re outta here.”

“We” — Ebonhearth followed him — “what do you mean; We!?”

“Yeah” — he pointed to the fallen guards — “we’re in this together!”

Julia’s eyes followed his movement, and she gasped at the sight…

“I’m sorry” — her voice waned — “for getting you involved in this…”

“Don’t apologise” — he cut through her words — “I made this choice of my own accord—”

David picked up the saddlebags and hauled them over his shoulder.

“—plus this whole thing has been a long time coming, anyway…”

He paused as an empty look filled his eyes, though it was short-lived when he finally broke out of his daze.

“Let’s get outta here before the real night watch shows up, lass!”

With a nod, Ebonhearth followed him out of the prison and towards the northern gate.

<><><>

Their heads low, Julia huddled the wall and kept to the shadows, as David did the same…

The last thing they wanted was to alarm the entire village of her escape, by doing something stupid.

And they were almost there…

Yet suddenly, her vision began to haze, and Julia felt her fingers slip from the wall.

“C’mon, lass” — said the blond as they came to an abrupt halt — “we gotta keep moving!”

“I-I” — she quaffed and pressed herself against the wall — “I can’t…”

“We don’t have time for this, lass!”

“David… I—”

She fell to her knees, as cold sweat rolled down her face.

“—I can’t feel my legs, and my head is all fuzzy…”

“The hell do you mean!?”

She tried to swallow, but ended up gagging instead…

“They’ve” — her breath hitched — “injected me with something…”

“Fuck” — David hard-slammed the wall — “bastards drugged you!”

Her eyes grew wider as she gasped for air…

‘The sedatives…!’

“David” — she gathered what little strength she had to speak — “I’m dead weight, and it’s not too late for you to—”

“I’m not leaving you behind, if that’s what you’re saying!”

“I—”

“Shut it!” The blond scoffed as he bent down before her, while facing the opposite direction.

Julia felt him move her arms around his shoulders, and despite what she had said, she grabbed on to him for dear life as he carried her in a piggyback position.

“Those guards definitely saw my face” — said the blond — “and I’m as good as dead if I stick around here!”

She closed her eyes and hid her face against his back.

What could she possibly answer to that?

It wasn’t long before they found themselves peeking at the northern gates from a corner behind a building. The stables were right beside the boundary walls—the ideal route for them to escape.

“Fuck!” David hissed and ducked behind a stack of crates.

The movement startled Julia from her drowsy state.

“What’s the matter?” She queried from upon his back.

Ebonhearth then peeked her head over the crates and saw the cause behind his concern: a single guard, overwatching the gates with a lit torch in hand.

“What now?”

David glanced over his shoulder, and they locked eyes.

Without words, he noticed an empty barrel nearby, and approached it, to which the blond didn’t even warn her before placing her inside.

“The hell are you doing!?”

Julia flailed in the container, but he pressed his hand over her mouth and shushed her.

“Stay there and hang onto this” — the blond handed her the saddlebags —“I’ll knock three times once the coast is clear…”

Unable to say anything, Ebonhearth answered him with a nod.

“Whatever you do, don’t come out until I give you the signal…”

He said as they locked eyes once more, before sliding the barrel’s lit in place and sealing it partially shut.

There was no doubt that he would be back, and, given her condition, she knew she’d only get in his way.

Still, as darkness consumed her whole, she found herself wondering whether she’d even be awake upon his return…

<><><>

Staying as far from the guardsman as he could, the blond neared the horse barn and entered through the backdoor.

However, as soon as he set foot inside, one of the horses spotted him and unleashed a loud neigh.

He jumped, and if the noise outside wasn’t indication enough, so too had the guard.

“Someone there?!”

Said the guardsman, the light radiating from his torch growing ever the brighter as he approached the stables…

‘Stupid horse!’

At the corner of his eyes, David saw a shovel leaned against the wall, and a haystack before it.

Without a second thought, he leapt into the pile and covered himself in a blanket of hay.

And soon, the guard entered and extinguished his torch, by plunging it into a drinking trough.

The light shone by the lantern hanging from the ceiling was enough, and Brocksteel noticed that the air within the barn was both dry and dusty.

It was more then enough to start an accidental fire…

“Hello…?”

He uttered with his sword arm at the ready, while skimming his surroundings with great vigilance.

And with what felt like an eternity later, he finally lowered his guard and shook his head.

The man then faced the horse and pat its muzzle.

“Spooked by a little mouse there, were you?”

Using the momentary distraction to his advantage, the blond sprung out from his hiding place, took the iron shovel and bashed it with all his might against the guard’s helmet.

He fell to the ground with a loud thud, and the mounts unleashed an almost rhythmic section of neighs.

“Sorry pal” — he threw the shovel aside — “bad night to be on duty.”

David then knelt and pressed his fingers against the man’s neck. His pulse was fine and his breathing was normal as can be—though he’d probably take a while to wake up…

‘Perfect!’

With a groan of effort, David grabbed him off the ground and lobbed him into the haystack.

“Well, that takes care of that—”

He brushed the dust from his hands while making his way out of the stables.

“—now to let the lass out of that barrel…”

Surely enough, he went back to where he had left Julia, and knocked on the barrel three times like he said he would.

“Coast is clear” — uttered the blond — “you can come out now…”

He waited and waited, yet no response…

“Lass…?”

Something was off, and he removed the lid, only to find her sleeping within the container.

‘Must be some really strong stuff, whatever they injected her with…’

With his hand pressed against her shoulder, David shook her awake.

“Wake up, lass!”

He saw a greyish haze leave her eyes once they opened.

“S-sorry” — she groaned with a sense of frailness in her tone — “I’m really messed up right now…”

“You can snooze all you want once we’re outta here—”

David hauled her out of the barrel and sat her down.

“—now let’s get moving…”

And with his hands behind his back, he knelt facing away.

Peering behind his shoulder, he saw Julia slung the saddlebags over her own and muster what little strength she had left to climb on his back.

They were so close to freedom, and there was no way either of them would let their efforts go to waste.

<><><>

That same time, back at the village jail.

Beneath a starry sky, two guards walked the streets of Solseed. They were heading to their shift at the local prison.

“Think those two will be mad at us?” The first queried his colleague.

“For being late—”

Without a care in the world, the second crossed his arms behind his head and smirked.

“—you bet your ass they will!”

“Seriously” — the first spoke again — “they shouldn’t have been late that one time!”

“Well, consider this payback for having to do a double that day!”

As they neared their destination, they saw that the prison door laid wide open, the light from inside bouncing off the building before it…

“The hell” — said the first guard — “think they got tired of waiting?”

The second then looked him in the eye.

“With that witch detained…?”

Their eyes widened as one, and they drew their swords before rushing inside.

And to their shock, they found their fellow guardsmen laying on the floor, hands pressed upon their heads as they groaned with anguish.

However, that was the least of their concerns, for the door to the cell ahead laid open—its only prisoner nowhere in sight.

Ebonhearth had escaped…

“Fuck” — the first stated — “she’s gone!”

The second then looked to his colleague with panic in his eyes.

“W-what should we do!?”

“Go sound the alarm” — said the first — “while I help these two back on their feet!”

And like the wind, he hurried to do just that!

<><><>

Meanwhile, back at the stables.

It wasn’t long before Ebonhearth found herself on horseback, while David tightened their bags onto the saddle.

“That should do it—”

Said the blond as he fastened the last of their things onto the horse.

“—ready to go?”

A tad too drowsy to speak, Julia answered with a nod.

“Then Let’s get moving!”

Yet before he could climb their mount, a deafening bell tolled across the village.

Someone had sounded the alarm!

“Fuck” — David hurried onto the horse — “they finally noticed—”

“—hold on tight, Julia!”

And with a firm kick to its flanks, the animal let out a loud neigh and reared up, before racing out of the stables and through the gates…

Free as the wind, they rode off in the night, never once looking back.

“David…?”

“What’s up?”

“You called me by my name back there…”

“Yeah” — the blond blinked — “what about it?”

“You never did that before…”

His cheeks suddenly went red, and Brocksteel took a moment to regain his ability to speak…

“Uhmm, well, I—”

David felt her hold loosened far too much, way too fast, and his eyes bulged. He let go of the reins, turned around, and caught Julia before she could fall off the horse.

“Woah there” — he helped her up — “now ain’t the time to sleep!”

“S-sorry…”

“It’s alright—”

He fixed his position so that he could grab hold of the reins.

“—we’ll set up camp somewhere soon.”

Julia’s arms tightened around him once more, and David felt her rest against his back…

At the corner of his eyes, he peered behind his shoulder and glanced at the top of her head.

‘No matter what, we’re gonna make it’ — the blond vowed to himself — ‘we have to!’

<><><>

Solseed village, not long after.

About an hour after the alarm had been rung, both the day and night watch found themselves within the mayor’s office.

Saying that Braithway wasn’t pleased would be an understatement.

Liquid fire burst through his veins, and Edgar slammed his fist upon his desk.

“Damn it all” — he shouted — “you fools are utterly incompetent!”

He looked to the day shift.

“You two should have been mindful of her accomplice—”

Then glared at the night watch.

“—and you two should’ve been at your posts on time!”

His heart drummed within his ears, to which Braithway took a deep breath to soothe his nerves.

No point in having a stroke over a lot of idiots, who couldn’t even do their jobs right.

He knew none of his men had ever seen him in such a state, and how they might soil themselves if he continued.

It didn’t look good for his image, either…

He shut his eyes and took another breath, before looking at the day shift again.

“Did you at least see the accomplice’s face?”

“Uhmm” — stammered the first guard — “no…?”

His colleague took over.

“W-we didn’t get a good look at him, before he knocked us out…”

“So we’re left without a lead, then…?”

The four held their tongue and Braithway saw their fists tighten…

Were they scared or furious?

He could never be so sure with such simpletons.

Mouth opened to scold them once more, a fifth man stepped into his office, hand pressed against his head.

“Hang on” — uttered one of the four guardsmen — “weren’t you the one overseeing the northern gate!?”

The mayor rose from his seat almost immediately.

“And where exactly were you when the witch escaped!?”

The man lowered his hands and squared his shoulders, frowning at Edgar as he glared him down.

Whether it was courage or arrogance that he showed, the mayor did not know. But this one wasn’t about to stand there and get yelled at like the rest of them.

“With all due respect, could you at least let me explain myself before lecturing me!?”

Never in his life had he been addressed in such an insolent fashion!

Yet somehow, the mayor couldn’t help but find his attitude endearing—for it showed him that not all his men were spineless cowards.

“Very well” — Edgar reclaimed his seat — “let’s hear it!”

“I went to check a ruckus in the stables and got knocked out cold.”

He approached the desk, a golden chain hanging from his left hand…

“I awoke in a hayrick not too long ago” — the man continued — “and noticed that one of the horses was missing.”

“And this is relevant; How…?”

Yet the guard didn’t say a thing as he placed the trinket on his desk…

Braithway arched him an eyebrow.

“A locket…?”

“Open it…”

And open it he did…

A burst of rage like he had never felt took hold of him, and Edgar felt himself quake. It was as if his eyes caught fire, and the flames burnt their way into his heart.

“That son of a bitch!”

He slammed it against his desk, the sound of shattering glass hitting his ears as he shot off his seat.

“The lot of you” — he marched towards the door — “follow me!”

<><><>

Not long after, the lot found themselves before David’s dwelling, the mayor hammering at his door with enough force to shake the outer frame.

“David” — Braithway bellowed — “open up this instant!”

The men stood behind him in utter silence, not once daring to speak.

“You better be in there, Brocksteel!”

He tried turning the handle, yet found that it was locked. Having had enough of this charade, he looked to his men.

“Kick it down and have your weapons ready!”

The steel of their blades rang as they drew them from their sheaths, and the largest of the bunch approached the door. He kicked it down with one, two, three sturdy pummels of his boot.

Pitch-black met their eyes as they set foot within, but they came prepared, and Edgar retrieved a match from his pockets and brushed it against the sole of his shoe.

It kindled a small flame, and he lit the lamp along the main entrance.

“What now?” Said one of the guards.

“What do you think” — Edgar drew his flintlock — “search the damn house, you idiots!”

And search they did, lighting every lamp as they examined the place.

The guards scattered to cover more ground, while Braithway stayed on the main floor.

A lonesome picture frame rested on the mantelpiece, and he spotted it as it glinted against the light.

Edgar approached the hearth and grabbed it off the mantel.

‘And what might this be…?’

In the frame was the same picture he found in the locket: a younger David standing alongside his sister.

The boy’s house was rather small, and it wasn’t long until the guards returned with the obvious news.

“He’s not here, sir…”

“Figured as much—”

Said the mayor while holstering his gun, the frame still in his hand…

“—return to your duties…”

“Yes sir!”

“As you wish!”

They saluted him, then hurried back to their posts.

Once they left, Edgar glanced at the photo one last time and chucked it into the unlit hearth.

“Shouldn’t have crossed me like that, boy…”

He uttered while retrieving a smoking pipe from his coat, along with another match.

A spark hissed as he scraped it against the stone wall, and the match lit ablaze.

With a hand cupped around the bowl, Braithway lit the baccy within and flung the flame straight into the fireplace. The corkwood where the frame laid began to burn, and he exhaled the fumes.

“See what you did” — he eyed the flames as they engulfed the photo — “now that sister of yours will have to suffer for your treason…”

The glass frame cracked as he expelled another puff, and he lingered until the blaze swallowed it whole.