The sun burns the stone floor of the busy town square of Logtown. The surrounding buildings that encircle the open space offer no protection from the harsh light. Only a single rectangular shadow cast by the clocktower that could be seen from the town’s skyline provides a small sanction from the scorching heat. A ray of light beams down and stabs a guard in the chest. The guard gargles out his screams as a steel boot crushes his ribcage. A herculean man with short blond hair dressed in an unbattered suit of armor towers over the guard. Sunlight reflects off the golden lion crest on the knight’s chest plate.

From the side, another guard with his arms outreached shouts, “Lord Alfred, please stop this! I beg of you. This isn’t right! You are staining your image.”

Alfred looks around to see the horrified faces of the townsfolk. “It matters not what these insignificant beings think. Bring the man named Leor to me so I may execute the bastard who dares use Master Gwyn’s name in vain!”

“But Lord Alden- “

A cold, tight squeeze around the throat chokes the air out of his words. Alfred lifts him by the neck. Looking down at him with beet-red eyes, Alfred’s voice grows restless.

“How many times do I have to repeat myself? I care not for what that man has said. Do not waste any more of my time. I’m in the middle of a search for something you mere mortals can’t comprehend. And your hesitance to tell me where Leor is is stalling my ticket to The City in the Clouds. Tell me where he is and I might forgive your insolence.”

Foam oozes out of the guard’s mouth as he scratches at the steel gauntlet gripping his throat. The thrashing slows down before his body goes limp. Alfred rolls his eyes and tosses the guard to the pile of motionless bodies that rest in the shadows of the bell tower that overlooks the arena-like town square.

A group of armed guards storm through the crowd and encircle Alfred with weapons at ready. Sounds of rattling armor from their quaking knees match their rapid heartbeat. On the rooftops, the captain of the guards stands with an army of archers locking their sights onto Alfred. Even from afar, their hands tremble before the Awakened.

“Lord Alfred! Since you refuse to calm down, we have no choice but to use force. You may be an Awakened but this town is ruled by Lord Ludwig and Lady Naiomi. And we will not stand for your antics any longer!”

Alfred bursts into laughter. “No one has seen him in years, and you still cling onto the so-called ‘King of the Gods’, Ludwig?” He points to the sky away from Logtown. “There is only one true God and it is Master Gwyn. There’s a reason why the city of Zion rests above everyone.”

The crowd erupts into a frenzy and lashes out at Alfred’s claim.

“It seems like the citizens of this forgettable town need a lesson in respect,” says Alfred as he paces towards the hollering crowd. He extends his thumb and index finger to the sky.

“Shit!” The captain swings down his hand and a shower of arrows hail down at him.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

THUD…. THUD….. THUD...

Guards fall from the rooftop one by one. The streets are splattered with the blood that leaks from the holes in their chest. The crowd screams and disburses, dodging the fleshy rain. Shattered remnants of their projectiles stab the lifeless remains of the fallen.

“Wh-what happened!?” shouts the captain. He looks for his men on the ground floor, but their bodies are embedded into the dirt. Sweat drips from his scalp when he realizes Alfred is nowhere to be seen. His collar snaps back on his neck and pinches his airway; He wails his feet, searching for the floor. From behind, a brash, demonic voice whispers into his ear.

“Did you really think that would work? I’ve been blessed by Master Gwyn, the ruler of light, and you thought you can subdue me with mere arrows? Pathetic.”

Alfred hangs him over the ledge and drops him. He dashes to the captain and plants his heel into his abdomen, using him as a landing dock. On impact, blood erupts from the captain’s mouth and Alfred picks him up by the collar.

“Now, do you want to end up like the rest of your men or will you tell me what I want to know?”

The captain spits in his face and a faint smile appears across his cheeks.

“F-fuck… you…”

A vein pops in Alfred’s head and he slams the captain into the ground, cracking the earth below. As he releases his fist from his motionless body, Alfred tears a piece of cloth from the captain’s uniform and uses it to wipe the grime from his cheek. He gazes at the blood-stained cloth. Steam emits from his skin, crushes the cloth in his fist, and drives it back into the captain's body. Blood seeps from his gauntlet as he dislodges it from the cold, stiff figure.

A tiny rock pelts Alfred’s shoulder plate, then he feels small slaps to his thighs. To his surprise, it’s a little boy with tears gushing from his eyes and snot dripping from his nose hammering away at Alfred’s leg.

“S-stop! Stop hurting my father!” cries the little boy. He starts clawing and kicking at the armor plate until his fingers and shins bleed. Every strike weakens as the blood soaks the boy’s clothes, but the pain doesn’t stop him. He continues to throw his body at Alfred like a wild animal. Alfred kicks the boy to the side, sending him through the air.

“I’ll commend you, boy. If you were part of the Licht Order, I might have even taken you in” says Alfred as he flicks the blood of the boy’s father off his armor.

The boy stumbles onto all fours and pounds his fist into the dirt. He drags his quivering knees and palms through the bloody, tear-stained floor towards his father’s body.

“W-why, Lord Alfred? You’re supposed to be a hero… a guardian of light like in the stories… Why are you doing this!?”

Alfred kneels beside the boy and watches him squirm.

“I leave you with a secret… You are looking at the next God, whose throne will be seated next to Master Gwyn.” He smiles as he pats the boy on the head. “And, a God needs to do what is necessary to keep order.” He rises to his feet and stands in front of the boy’s path.

“Once I find one of the relics, I will finally be able to start my destiny. I wish to be a merciful God, so I will let you see your father again.”

The boy peers up at the colossus that stands before him. The sun casts a shadow over Alfred’s figure. Only his eyes pierce through the darkness and stare blankly into his soul. The cold kiss of steel touches the boy’s forehead.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make it painless.”

A blinding yellow light shines from Alfred’s fingertip; it disperses the shadows that cover him, revealing a gentle smile that reminds the boy of his father. The boy closes his eyes and presses his forehead deeper into the welcoming light.

“I’m sorry…. Father.”

The warmth disappears and the ruffles of a cape flap in the wind. BOOM! The sounds of rubble bouncing against the floor echo throughout the street. The boy opens his eyes to a black blur standing before him. A dust cloud covers the base of the clocktower and the air around the mysterious black spirit incinerates. The veins on his neck bulge out and his fingers dig into his palm until they lose their color. The black spirit snarls like there are knives in his throat.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing!?” screams Leor.