You know, I don’t get what's all about risking my life for the lord. I know he rules this castle and by extension the village down the hill, but he has done nothing but give little to the people. 

I had heard that when he first arrived 100 years ago he was kind, like his mother. I never heard her name, only that she was the 34th Child of The First God.

As I walk to my post on the castle wall I look into the main chamber, where Lord Alburno was eating his second breakfast. The fat fuck doesn’t deserve that throne, adorned with gold, gems, and the skin of an Albino Bearilla, a rare 4 armed beast of slaughter. It was a prized kill of his, slain at only 16 years old. Children of The First God are quite powerful, even the diluted blood of one of their offspring. 

I arrive at my post, the right tower facing the village down the hill. My friend and fellow guard, Tark, was leaning against the mossy stone.

“I wish the Giant War was still raging on, then I could have a real reason to guard this castle” he says while removing his helmet, his shabby brown hair and dirty armor showing the morale the guards of this fort show.

We haven’t had a visitor from a divine since, well I’ve never seen one. Truthfully I never left this area thanks to Lord Alburno. After losing my caretakers from the settlement, who took me in as an infant, I had to become a guard at this castle because I was quite strong and built well, even if I was only 16.

I was forced into service just like all young men when they turn 18 years of age, as long as they are fit for combat otherwise they become workers in the fields. I was allowed to join early due to my physical abilities being beyond that of even regular soldiers.

I could only spar against a few, seeing as I almost killed my partners a couple times.

Young women get their own… eh there's no reason to go into what Lord Alburno does with them, at least the beautiful ones.

I haven’t left these walls besides the occasional bandit raid, but I never arrived fast enough to see combat. I have some combat abilities, but I could never put them into practice. 

Hours pass, and nothing changes. The last war has been over for 20 years, peace has finally been established across the land. Tark however, sees something that isn’t the enclosing darkness of night,

“Look there, a shadow is coming up the road” he exclaims to me. 

I look down and I see it too. Slowly it grows and the large torches reveal their presence with their beautiful flames. It's a group of womenfolk.

They scream at the top of their lungs up the wall “Please help! A beast is striking down the men you sent down to protect us! They don’t have long until they all perish!”. 

I rushed along the wall, when I got there the guards were pulling up the huge metal gate.

“Get down the wall now Tekumah! Kill the beast and bring its head!” yells one of the senior guards pulling up the gate.

I vault over the wall and land in a pile of hay, it exploding everywhere. That really hurt, I wish the stairs were closer.

Brushing the hay off my armor I ran to the gate, another guard tossed a sword my way as I forgot mine on the tower. We mounted our horses, and when the gate was open enough we rode out into the night, and into the fight.

Down the hill we start to hear a howling scream from the village. The party looked at each other, some fear, some excitement. We were only 10 men. Besides me there's 6 regular guardsmen coming, they were nothing really of note besides Natan. Natan was quite good with a spear, and horseback combat. 

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He was the only one that brought a spear, with that he brought his horse, raised from its birth and named by Natan, Max. They have quite the bond, almost like brothers. 

Then there's Ox. They call him that because he’s well, strong and big as an ox. Standing 7ft tall, he is our best chance at defeating this beast. He carries a great sword, because a regular sword just doesn’t cut it for him. Mighty gauntlets cover his hands for when he gets in close quarters. His horse, she’s used to him at this point.

To forget our Ranger, Emera. She is still a novice but is a great sharpshooter. Can even enhance her arrows with small bits of magic.

Finally joining us is the old Cleric, Ulir. He worships the Sixth child, who grants him power. Why he doesn’t worship the Thirty Fourth child, the mother of lord Alburno is a question I have asked too many times. Maybe fire is just too interesting a power to have. He still has the basic healing, enhancing, and foresight a Cleric worshiping the divine has.

We finally get down to the village, but the screaming has halted. I stay to the back, as the least experienced in combat it's my job to be killed first if attacked from behind, I just love my life sometimes.

Slowly we rode through, not one door was open, but the road was littered with bodies. I would like to say that they are all together, but not one body isn’t missing a limb. Some of the workers tried to fight it off, but it didn't go well for them.

Suddenly there's a sound of scurrying, which stops the party in their tracks. The black of night is only broken from our torches. 

The silence was only for a moment, as soon as the party stopped I looked around and saw no beast. Then we heard a sound, I wasn’t sure what it was. But I sensed something, it felt evil. This thing, it wasn’t normal. I could feel the darkness.

Then with a loud growl, a shape leaped through the darkness, and grabbed Natan right off of his horse. A shrill scream came from Natan as it threw him around.

Before anyone could react, an enraged Mae kicked it into a house. 4 of the men got off their horses and ran inside the hole in the house. I start to climb off my horse but then a bright light comes from behind me.

When I look back the light grows into an explosion that decimates the structure of the home.

“What the hell happened!” I yell as I hit the ground.

My eyes darted around, from Ox yelling at Ulir about something, to the 2 men and Emera tending to Natan. Natan is wrecked, Emera was searching for his left arm. His eyes were lifeless.

I don’t know what that was, but fear gripped my heart. I finally hear what Ox was yelling about.

“You killed those men for NOTHING! I should take your head to the lord myself!” Ox yelled down at the old man.

“Watch your tongue, I did those men a favor. It is better than being ripped to shreds” says Ulir.

Then we hear something from the rubble that isn’t the crackling fire. Slowly a shape rises and a shadow is cast through the fire’s light. This thing, it stood like a man, had a lean body with muscles like Ox, clawed fingers, tough skin, and it’s face…

Its jaw was elongated, teeth sharper than a sword, eyes that of a primal hunter.

“WEREWOLF, GET AWAY!” yelled from behind me. I turned back and Ulir was backing away, Ox had his great sword gripped tight. I couldn’t find Emera but the two men were ready with sword and shield in hand.

I turn back and pull my sword out and grip it with both hands. The werewolf stands and raises its head letting out a great howl, the sound resonates and almost quiets the flames. Its head lowered and blood dripped from its lower jaw. 

I felt my eyes widen as they locked with the beast’s. As I blinked it was gone from the rubble and was leaping on me. I rolled to the side but when I got to my feet the werewolf had already recovered and was swinging its claws at me.

It scratched through my chest plate with every swing. I swung my sword into its neck which forced it onto a knee but I couldn’t break the skin. 

Then I felt intense pain, slowly I looked down and saw its claws deep in my chest. My sword dropped to the ground as I fell to a knee myself.

I tried to call for help but as I raised my head towards Ox the werewolf bit down on the back of my neck. 

Everything has gone black, no feeling anywhere. This is death.

…

…

…

…

Okay this cannot be how the afterlife is. Stories from Ulir spoke of a realm outside of our reality that The First God created after the Reign of The Father. But the Fourth Child was said to have finished this realm and made it better for the dead that entered, having dominion over mortal souls.

But it was a lie, that fucking bastard child lied. I can’t believe it, this is my reward for fighting for her. 

Then from the darkness a deep voice called out to me, it felt familiar but unknown.

“Arise son, death will not be your end”