Soon, the clouds parted making way for the sunshine that originated from Kenan’s position. At the final words of his oath, silence took over the battlefield. Noctis looked at his hands, blood on them. He imagined, no matter how hard he scrubbed, the red wouldn’t come out. Yet, he had come to terms with the life he had already taken. Their deaths had been justified.

Suddenly, the injured guardsman erupted in cheers. Some of them yelling, others calling out his name, some just in pure excitement. They hugged each other, laughed, tears flowed and weapons sheathed. Victory!

The sounds were restricted in Kenan's ears. Instead, guilt thumped in his head. It coursed through his entire body. If only he was stronger. The blood of Rufus wasn't justified.

“You couldn’t have done anything.” A voice said behind him. A hand landed on his shoulder. “He chose to come with us, be part of the guard, to follow you.” Doco said.

“How many?”

“One.”

Kenan balled his fist and punched the ground. Over and over. “If I was stronger, faster, had more magic. I wouldn't have needed his help. I would’ve killed him on my own.” Again he hit the ground. Another time for good measure. “If I was stronger. I could’ve saved Mot…” Noctis felt himself involuntarily stand and turn around to face his uncle. Who cocked back a hand and slapped him across the face.

“Your parents, and sister made a decision to try and save your life. Do you hear me! They made it. I will not have you squander their memory in front of me. A thousand times they would give you their lives, and they did!”

“But..”

“But you grew strong enough to save your sister! To defeat this monster. You took the black blade in your hands, you chose to use your death magic. So that you can help her. You couldn’t idle by to see evil people hurt the good ones. You said that Kenan! Death will come with what you are becoming…”

“What?! A monster reaping soles?!” Kenan yelled half heartedly.

“No. Not a madman bent on killing everything in the world to gain a modicum of power! A hero.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “A leader. Someone to look up to. What's happening around you? Men cheering for your hard fought victory.”

“I’m no hero. Just a demon.” Kenan said, with his head down.

“In your sight, maybe. But to them. You are Kenan Noctis of the Sorrowful Night, avenger of the fallen, killer of the mad orc. Or whatever name you have. Sure, you still have a long way to go kid. Yet, you already set down this path, and I know that you are stong enough to continue down the way..” Doco put a hand on Kenan's head. “I know this too. I could not be more proud of you. Right now, Tyris and Ava are looking down on you, with tears in their eyes. In disbelief at the amount you have grown in such a short time.” Doco then brought the boy into a hug.

A few moments passed. Kenan largely unmoving. The two separated. Noctis looked up at his uncle. Doco saw the tears separated a path of dirt on his face. “Thank you uncle.” He then took a few steps back. Picked up the Black Blade. Flicked all blood and mud off of it. Sheathed it.

“What are you doing now?”

“Going to hug lucy.” Kenan smiled. Before he fully walked away. He stopped at Rufus, looked down. Quickly he scanned the area. Eventually he found the thrown tankard. He folded the drunkard's arms over the cup and closed his eyes. “I’ll never forget.”

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Noctis then went towards the three large tents. Looking at the three, he just knew. Somehow, the oaths called to him and went to the right tent. Once inside, he was assaulted with a foul smell. The source of the smell became apparent. A dozen or so people were placed around. All of them were hogtied and on their knees. A few were obviously dead. The alive were beaten, starving, and sitting in their own feces. “I heard some noise outside. Did some of you die? That would be a shame.” A female voice came. A familiar one.

A shush was quickly followed behind the words. With another female voice saying. “They’ll beat you. Quiet and head down.” Kenan then searched for the first voice. Eventually he found a girl, with gross overalls, dirty blonde hair in a ponytail, and an untold strength underneath her skin with an ungodly stubborn soul. He went around to her back, unsheathed his sword and cut the rope. He sheathed his blade.

She immediately scurried back to hit another person on accident. “What are you doing? Who are you?”

Kenan really hoped she didn’t recognize him cause it was somewhat dark in here. Not because of his eyes. He then sent tiny sparkles around his face. They were normal colored flames. A few moments passed. Lucy's face went through a multitude of emotions. Confusion with fear. To even more confusion. To finally, recognition. “Kenan?!” She asked, still unmoving from her spot.

“Sister.” He said. He smiled, tears formed in his face.

“Kenan?!” She said more hurriedly. Lucy stood and quickly went over to him. “Kenan!” She embraced him. Noctis reciprocated. For a long moment they stood. Hugging each other. Both sobbed. Eventually they parted. She looked him up and down. “Oh gods. What's with the armor, the blade? You're bleeding! You're hurt! What happened to your eyes?!”

Kenan couldn’t help but chuckle. Lucy was Lucy as ever. “Another time sis.” He looked to the other captives. “We have to get these people freed, home, safe and fed.”

“Wait! Our parents…” She looked as if she was holding something back.

“Are at rest now.” He finished.

“Oh…” She clearly didn’t know how to deal with Kenan's newfound maturity.

“So I don’t get a hug?” A voice said. Kenan looked at the entry-way to see Doco inside. Two more guards came in too. They immediately began to go around and cut the ropes of the captives. Lucy yelped in excitement and ran to hug her uncle. They pulled away. “I’m glad you have your strength Luce. Kenan and I have to do something. Do you have enough strength to help the rest?” She nodded. “Good.” He turned and left.

Kenan began to walk back. He stopped once again at Lucy. They hugged again. They exchanged love. Then he exited the tent. He saw Doco at the middle tent. Where Roshu exited from. “You ready?”

“What are we doing?”

“I suspect that the orc here was sent by another green-blood. You do too.” He opened the flap. “We're looking for information.”

Kenan did have that suspicion. No, he knew it to be true. Felt it. He walked into the tent. Immediately a sense of danger assaulted him. Blood was all over the ground and a certain area of the tent was thrashed about. He was about to draw his sword when a blur of fur hit him on his chest. It had so much force it knocked him to the ground.

What he saw next was a maw of a beast. A row of large sharpened teeth threatened him. Then suddenly.

The beast licked him.

And it began to shake with so much excitement it jittered uncontrollably. Kenan tried to back away from the rough tongue, but couldn’t defend from the onslaught. It seemed as if someone came to the rescue as the beast was lifted from his face. Noctis sat up to see the large white wolf with a pup in its jaw. Its fur matted with blood and was walking on a limp. In its eyes, it talked.”With my life.” Kenan said. It swayed. Dropped the pup. Then it walked out. Kenan knew it was going to die beside it’s mate.

Noctis looked at the pup currently sitting on his lap. It was wagging with incredible excitement. Now he finally got a good look at the beast, it’s fur was largely black. With its face, ears, belly, feet and tail white. It had grey eyes. Familiar, intelligent eyes.

[Wait… Impossible] Kenan thought.

“That's an odd looking wolf,” Doco said.

“D-.” Kenan gulped. “Dion?” The wolf pup barked once. “No. It can’t be. '' In response the wolf snapped at Noctic’s hand. Biting down. Not enough to break skin. But enough to sting. Just like what Dion would do. As if to say. “It’s me, idiot.”

“Dion!” Noctis brought the pup to a hug fast. The wolf pup, Dion, licked it’s master. He wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but Dion was incredibly happy to be with his best friend again.