It was a misty dawn as Drac woke up. Still hungover from the previous night’s meal, he slowly got up from his straw bed to stretch out his tired muscles. Snaps and pops, then back to work. Drac stepped out to see his farm. One that he was mighty proud of. One that he spent his hard-earned money on and worked his hard-worn body on. He has spent seventeen years on this tiny farm and never spent any more outside of it. There is no need to leave. He was perfectly fine on his own, tending to his animals. Cows and chickens kept good company.

We have all we could want right here on this farm," his father would say to him.

Drac told himself not to think about it any more. What could he do when even the villagers from the nearest settlement see him as different? There are better things to think about, such as how to store the eggs for sale.

“Alright, chickens, what have you got for me today? Well, not enough.”

With the chicken coop empty, Drac found other uses for his time, cleaning the pens of poo. It is nasty work; however, it stops one from feeling hungry when all you can think of is the smell.

BANG BANG!

Drac poked his head out of the chicken coup, curious about the noise at the front door.

“Drac! Are you in? Answer me, please!”

Concerned about her unusual urgency, Drac threw away his cleaning tools, running to meet his stubborn best friend. He opened the door to meet a brown-eyed girl with soft features and nervous eyes looking behind her. A voice heavy with exhaustion, her brow covered in sweat

“Pack your things! Now!"

“Hey, hey! What's going on, Bree? I haven't seen you for ages! You didn't want to come by because I beat you at-"

“Pack your things now!”

Bree rushed past Drac to his drawers and emptied them of their contents to put in a nearby rucksack. After a moment of confusion, Drac springs after Bree to help.

“Okay, Bree, tell me slowly what's going on.”

"They are coming." Bree is frantically shoved into what clothes she can find, touching items that make Drac cringe.

“Who is coming? Cal? I already told him I wouldn’t come down to the village again.

Bree stopped to face Drac. Tears filled her big eyes. Drac went to comfort her, but she stopped his arms from coming for a hug.

“The village decided... it's you."

“Me..? Me?! WHY ME?”

Drac’s head was pounding, and his mind was fogged with rage and fear. His head was in his hand as thoughts rushed through his head. He hears Bree's faint weeping.

“I abided by the laws of the land. I stay on the farm and cause no harm. Why… me?”

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Drac's heart breaks.

Bree held Drac’s hand. soft and warm.

"Please, Drac, we need to leave.”

Drac gave a nod and proceeded to pack his essentials. After packing was done, Drac brought the sacks to his shoulder. A thundering noise echoed in the small cottage. Drac and Bree looked over to see where the sound came from. The front door had been blown off its hinges, lying splintered on the floor. Standing in the doorway is a fit man at the beginning of his adult years. Their eyes were blue, and their hair was as dark as Drac's but not as coily.

Drac shouted at the young man “So, it's you! Errand boy this time?”

Drac noticed that his childhood bully’s clothes were much more wealthy-looking than before. He had never seen clothes so well made.

“Nice clothes,” he grins. “Steal them off a noble's clothing racks? Not good, Cal.

"You shouldn't wear things that don't suit you. You’ll get caught too easily.”

Waiting for Cal to fly into a rage worthy of a berserker, Drac is instead stunned to see Cal smiling.

“Wow, Drac. I never knew you had such a mouth on you. Finally got the courage to fight back after years of letting Bree fight your battles, or is this you, giving up?"

Cal sprouts a grin that brings goosebumps through Drac’s body.

Bree came between Cal and Drac.

“Please Cal. Let him go. Let him disappear into the wilderness, never to be seen again. Please, for all the years that we were friends.”

Cal looks down at her.

"Friends, we are not. friends we never were. And friends we will never be, as long as you keep this foreigner amongst us. And besides, I cannot suffer from friendship with a commoner. Playing in this ditch you call home was a good experience. Father was wise to let me galavant amongst the lessers. One must know the people you must govern. Now come along. It's your turn now."

“Turn for what?” Drac asked.

“To Become My Strength"

Several soldiers walked through the doorway into the cottage, surrounding Drac and Bree with spears.

“Strength?! What are you talking about??" Drac said as he looked around at the spears pointing at him.

“Oops!” Cal snickers, "I almost let it out. I am excited, you see. This has been a long time coming. But don't worry. This is just a normal sacrifice. For the good harvest.” Cal winks.

Drac is lost in his mind, searching for possibilities. Talking is a no; fighting back with his meagre skills is a certain no. Dread fills Drac’s mind. He will not see his best friend ever again.

Drac reaches for Brees's hand. soft and warm. Unlike his calloused ones, these hands picked Drac up at his weakest. at his most lonely times. Drac looks at Bree's teary-red eyes.

“Thank you.”

Drac breathes deeply, then exhales his bad thoughts.

“Take me, Cal.”

As Drac is escorted out, Bree’s sobs are heard from behind while Drac is ushered along by the soldiers He looks back. The old cottage he called home is fading in the distance. He left his father's farmers “I don't have a choice this time, Dad.”

Hateful eyes from the villagers stare as he is pushed down the street. A funeral was in procession, and the deceased looked back at them.

After an hour of walking, the group reaches a building. Dilapidated from previous wars, it seemed to be an old castle or battlement. As they made their way through the building with shovels, they finally reached a room. A sickly feeling radiated from the door.

“Hold on a moment, guards. I have to send word to my father that the guest has arrived.” Cal skipped through the door like a child, happy to have found sweets.

As the door closed, Drac felt his anxiety reach its limit. All he wanted to do was run as fast as he could. But what could he do once he escapes? Someone of his likeness is too easy to recognise in this country. Leave the country? He only knows Trae, and with no money, it will be torturous to survive before reaching the border.

It was over.

A thud was heard to the right of Drac. Three more thuds And suddenly, a clang. Drac turned to see a man in black attacking the guards. Steel bounced off steel, and both men were pushed away. The assailant swiftly regained their composure to initiate a strike. The guard saw this and struck from above. The man in black twisted to the side to evade the attack and went in close to stab.

Blood coated the blade as the last guard fell to the ground. The man in black looked over to Drac. He came closer but stopped when he saw how frightened Drac was. The man in black stood still for a time before sighing and reaching over to his face to pull his mask down.

“Come. Now.”

Drac saw himself.